State to launch mobile vans to reach out to farmers in various districts

To help farmers in remote and far away districts, experts travelling in a mobile van will impart knowledge and special training to the farmers to help increase their production. A senior agriculture department official said that the mobile vans will be equipped with various instruments as well to examine the nature and condition of the land.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has repeatedly laid emphasis on improving the agriculture infrastructure in the state. Various projects were taken to help farmers increase their production. More than 128 Kishan Bazars have been set up throughout the state. The present government had taken necessary steps so that farmers can directly sell their produce in the city markets.

 Many a times, a section of middle-men used to buy the produces from farmers at cheap rates and sell them in the markets at higher prices. However, the situation is now improving. It may be here mentioned that the state government on several occasions earned ‘Krishi Karman’ award from the Centre for its performances.

To increase the production of various crops, farmers will be given special training by the experts who will travel to the interior villages of several districts. The campaign will be carried out at the block level, through which farmers will be able to know about the facilities and new schemes that the state government has taken up to provide better infrastructure to farmers. Senior officials of the state agriculture department will be available in the mobile vans and will interact with farmers, extending all technical help to them.

A senior official of the Agriculture department said that there will be audio-video presentations to explain to the farmers about the details of various ongoing projects and how to contact the government for a particular project. Experts and agriculture researchers in the mobile vans will inform the farmers about modern technology for paddy cultivation and also teach them how to prevent potatoes from being attacked by various diseases.

A senior official of the Agriculture department said this is the first time the state government has taken up such a project and it will immensely help the farmers. They will no longer have to come to the city for examining the soil. The mobile vans will travel to their places and help them to get their soil tested. The state government has sanctioned Rs 175 crore for procuring various equipments required for farming.