Badal, Agriculture Minister, today interacted with the agriculture officials of all the districts through video conferencing at Nepal House where Kharif Workshop -2020 was organized.

He said that there is a need to work in an integrated manner. It is the responsibility of the departmental officials to meet the target set by the government. “We have to convert the challenge caused by Covid-19 into opportunity”, he said.

Due to the Covid-19 outbreak, many migrant labourers have returned to the state. It should be ensured to benefit them with all the government schemes and encourage them for agricultural activities. “Connect all the farmers of the state with the PM Kisan Yojana by August 15 and ensure that no farmer is left out of this scheme”, he said adding that the Agriculture Department will surely play an important role in emerging out of the Covid-19 menace.

The Agriculture Minister said that “we also have to strengthen the market committees so that the objectives set by the market committee can be achieved cent percent.”

Addressing the agricultural officials, he said that district-level agricultural officials should reach every village to encourage farmers for organic farming.

The state government is committed to motivate the farmers of Jharkhand for organic farming and to give them a fair price for their produce. For this, an organic certification center will be opened in every district. 

The minister said that the annual calendar is being prepared by the department in which dates will be set for agricultural works. From next year, May 25 will be celebrated as Seed/Beej Day. He said that agricultural machinery is very essential for agricultural work, so it is necessary to ensure that agricultural machinery is accessible to all farmers.

The Agriculture Minister directed all the officials to immediately resolve the problems of the farmers. The state government is also going to issue a helpline number soon, on which farmers can place their problems and their disposal will be done with ease. He said that a large number of migrant laborers have returned to the state due to the Covid-19 outbreak. 

The state government is identifying these migrant laborers and considering to provide them a package soon, for which a provision of Rs 200 crore has been made. He has directed all the officials associated with the department to encourage farmers for agricultural loans.

Abu Bakr Siddiqui P, Secretary, Agriculture Department, said that agricultural work is going amid Covid-19 pandemic and more and more people are getting involved in agricultural works. We have to ensure the distribution of seeds at the right time to the farmers so that the farmer can get maximum benefit. He has directed all agricultural officials to cover up the farmers who are left out from the P.M. Kisan Yojana. 

He said that the KCC campaign is going on only to ensure to complete it by the end of this month. Also co-ordinate with the banks and try to provide agricultural loans to the farmers. Officials must take a tour of the field and encourage and motivate the farmers. “From the point of view of agriculture, the coming two-three months are very important for the farmers, we have to work by keeping this in mind without wasting time”, he said.

Manoj Kumar, Director, Agriculture department said that the Kharif Workshop-2020 has been organized with the aim of benefiting the farmers of the state. The department will surely provide full benefit to the farmers of the state this time.

On the occasion, Nancy Sahay, Director, Animal Husbandry, Mrityunjay Kumar Baranwal, Registrar Cooperative societies, Varun Ranjan, Director, Horticulture and other Senior officials of the department were present.