Assam Farm Sector Growth: No Funds Shortage Assured

New Delhi, Jun 2 (PTI) Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Tuesday assured that there will be no shortage of funds for farm sector growth and rural development in Assam.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma called on Chouhan, who is also the rural development minister, to discuss various issues related to the state.

The progress of various central schemes run by the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development in Assam was reviewed in the meeting, an official statement said.

Chouhan said, "There will be no shortage of funds and resources for agriculture and rural development in Assam".

He assured full support to the state in ensuring the maximum benefits of the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF), Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana - Gramin (PMAY-G), MGNREGA and other central schemes.

Rural Development Secretary Rohit Kansal informed that the technical bottlenecks in the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Gramin (PMAY-G) and MNREGA systems have been completely resolved.

Funds have been allocated under MNREGA as per the Assam government's demand.

He also informed that the Vikas Bharat-Rozgar Evam Aajeevika Mission (Rural) will replace MNREGA across the country from July 1.

During the meeting, Chouhan handed over the draft of the Agriculture Action Plan, prepared on the basis of the specific climatic and soil characteristics of Assam.


Several important decisions related to agriculture and rural development were agreed upon.

Rural Development Ministry officials informed that Assam has achieved remarkable progress towards women empowerment by creating over 9 lakh 'Lakhpati Didis', exceeding the target. The work will be accelerated in collaboration with incubators at Assam Agricultural University (AAU) to further strengthen these women's enterprises.

To strengthen the agriculture sector, the central government informed about the projects and funds approved in Assam under the Agricultural Mechanization and Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY).

Atish Chandra, Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, apprised the chief minister of efforts being made to provide agricultural power weeders to women farmers.

The expansion of the National Mission on Edible Oils, Oil Palm (NMEO-OP) was also discussed.

To promote safe farming in the state, 1,500 new bamboo polyhouses have been approved this year.

Seeking to strengthen agricultural infrastructure, buildings for a Pesticide Testing Lab and an Edible Oil Testing Lab have been approved under the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY).

Partnerships are being established with APEDA and the National Organic Cooperative Ltd to promote international marketing and export of Assam's organic products.

Narendra Bhushan, Secretary, Department of Land Resources, informed that positive progress is being made towards the digitisation of land records in Assam.