Centre committed to ensure food security & farmers’ prosperity, says Union Agriculture Minister –

Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan today said that the Centre is committed to food security of the country along with ensuring the prosperity of farmers of the country.Mr. Chouhan was addressing a function at Piparakoth Krishi Vigyan Kendra in Motihari under ongoing Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan. The nationwide Abhiyan has entered its 5th day and the Union Agriculture minister said the main motto of the campaign is to provide doorstep delivery of different schemes and welfare programmes to beneficiary farmers.
He said a special attention was given to seamless execution of lab to land ideas during the Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan with the help of agro scientists and experts.
The Union Minister said integrated policies are being adopted to ensure increased income of farmers like Ethanol promotion for Maize producers and providing climate resilient varieties of rice and other crops. Mr. Chouhan asserted that a new act will be brought to safeguard the interests of farmers against counterfeit pesticides and stern action will be taken against them.
He commended Bihar’s farmers and encouraged them to diversify their agricultural practices, integrating cereal farming, horticulture, vegetable farming, and animal husbandry. Mr. Chouhan gave assurances to litchi growers regarding orchard support to extend shelf life of litchi, with further assistance from ICAR scientists. The Minister also engaged in direct discussions with farmers cultivating the renowned Marcha Dhan, a GI-tagged paddy variety.