Mr S.S.Ahluwalia, Union Minister of State for Agriculture & Farmers Welfare and Parliamentary Affairs, has asked the farming community to make use of new programmes and schemes to double their income. He was addressing the farmers, scientists and agriculture officers at Krishi Vigyan Kendra(KVK) of CSK H.P. Agriculture University at Kangra, around 40 KMs from here today.
The Minister said , “ farm officers and scientists must work hard to transfer the new scientific technology and research to the fields as there was huge gap between laboratories and farms. ”
He told that traditional knowledge had its utility and integrated farming, animal husbandry, fishery, increasing the production of oilseeds, pulses, etc were important. He also enlightened the farmers about new plans and emphasized the need to involve young generation with the farming for which the Govt. of India has initiated programmes like start up India, skill enhancement training, etc. When informed about the damage to crops by monkeys, wild and stray animal, the Minister asked the scientists to think out of box to solve such problems and also gave some suggestions to deal with these new challenges. He said , “instead of abandoning the farming or growing less remunerative crops, such issues should be taken up as new challenges and provided workable solutions.”
The Minister said that the scientists and farm officers needed to work hard to have live link with the farmers and regularly interact with them to provide them innovative ideas and solutions. He also listened to the problems of farmers and agreed to consider the suggestion to grant licenses to sell farm inputs to the wards of farmers.
Prof A.K.Sarial,Vice-Chancellor, apprised the minister that his university has developed twenty models of enterprises which can enable the farmers to double their income. He elaborated about such enterprises. He assured the minister that his university would toil hard to help the farming community to double their income. He also detailed about various academic, research and extension education activities.
Mr.S.S.Ahluwalia held a meeting with the Vice-Chancellor and statutory officers and asked them to serve the farming community with unflagging zest.
Earlier, Mr.S.S.Ahluwalia visited Sobha Singh Art Gallery and Museum at Andretta near Palampur. The minister, accompanied by his wife, evinced keen interest in the paintings by the late artist and spent around two hours in the gallery and interacted with the family member of the artist.
The minister said that painting was a God gift to the artist and through his brush he had given a new definition of Gurus, love, sufferings, struggle and spiritualism. He also appreciated the family for meticulously maintaining the galley and taking care of this rich national heritage selflessly.
Bibi Gurcharan Kaur, daughter of Sobha Singh, presented him with a painting of Guru Gobind Singh Jee and literature on the artist.
Arvind Sharma is an award winning bi-lingual journalist with more than 20 years of experience.
He has worked with Divya Himachal, Dainik Jagran, Dainik Bhasker, Vir Partap, Ajit and PTI.
In 2010, he was conferred the Himachal Kesri journalism award. He reports on the Tibetan Government in Exile, politics, sports, tourism and other topics. He lives in Dharamshala.
