Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal today emphasised the need to create peer groups in the agriculture sector by promoting progressive farmers to motivate youths to take up farming as a profession.
The economy of the state will make headway only when the agriculture sector is properly strengthened, Sonowal said while inaugurating a hatchery of the Assam Livestock and Poultry Corporation (ALPCO) here.
"Introducing progressive farmers as peer group in the society would inspire the youth to take up farming in a significant way and this will propel growth in agriculture sector in the state", he added.
"Livestock farming, an integral part of our agriculture sector, has huge market both within the state and outside", the chief minister said.
The abundant resources available in the state in this sector must be capitalised using latest technology to provide opportunities for a dignified source of earning for the youth, Sonowal said.
Opportunities in the livestock market of the state stretch upto the ASEAN countries and the veterinary department should come up with result oriented initiatives to make the state surplus in livestock production, Sonowal said.
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The chief minister urged the department to carry out a survey to ascertain the livestock demand in the state vis-s-vis its supply so that the gap could be plugged.
He asserted that the state government would extend full support to farmers engaged in livestock production and also called upon the banks to join hands with the farmers.
The Assam Government has launched Chief Minister Samagra Gramya Unnayan Yojana under which around Rs 33,000 crore would be spent to double the farmers' income in the state and people must work together with the government for implementing this scheme on a mission mode.
Sonowal presented the 'Chief Minister Preronaa Award' to 10 farmers engaged in livestock production in the state which include a 'gamosa', a citation and a cheque of Rs 10,000 each.