M'shtra govt to set up rural business hubs

With a view to connect farmers with big cities and provide them with an easy access to business avenues, the central government has decided to set up five rural business hubs in each district of the state.

According to sources, Union agriculture minister Sharad Pawar, who is visiting Aurangabad on October 8, will make an official announcement in this regard.

The rural hubs will have internet facilities to keep farmers abreast with the latest research, national and international market trends.

Navin Sona, zilla parishad chief executive officer, said that five villages in each district having a population of 10,000 are being selected by the government to set up the hi-tech hubs.

"Apart from providing Internet access, farmers will also be provided with transportation facilities. The hubs will make available information on crops of each district," Sona said while giving further details about the hub activities.

The District Rural Development Agency (DRDA) will monitor the hubs.

Recently, a meeting of all CEOs and the project officials was convened in Mumbai. The meet was informed that agriculture minister Sharad Pawar, who is scheduled to inaugurate a state-level meet of bureaucrats and public representatives on October 8, would make the official announcement about the scheme.

Chief minister Vilasrao Deshmukh and rural development minister Vijaysinh Mohite Patil will be the chief guests on the occasion.

The meet will be attended by six divisional commissionerates, zilla parishad chief executive officers, project officials, 165 block development officers, gram sevaks and sarpanches.

Besides, secretaries of the departments of water conservation and agriculture, chief of banana cultivation and poultry and chairpersons of four major agriculture produce market committees have been invited to attend the meet.