Singh urges scientists to tell farmers about benefits of tech

Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Radha Mohan Singh today appealed to agriculture scientists to inform farmers about the benefits of modern technologies.
He said agriculture scientists should visit villages during holidays and inform farmers about how modern technologies could increase production.
Singh was addressing a gathering after laying the foundation stone of a Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) at Barrackpore in North 24 Parganas district.
Farmers would get various assistance like soil testing and information about modern technologies from the KVKs.
The minister said 663 KVKs would be set up in the country and work for 400 of them has already started. Among these 663, 21 would be in West Bengal.

Singh said the idea of KVK was mooted during the tenure of Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee but these were actually set up now.
It was not possible for the Centre alone to look after development of agriculture science and state governments should also come forward, he said adding getting land for setting up KVKs is a problem.
"If we require a strong nation, we need to strengthen farmers and villages," Singh said.