Rajasthan government is committed to ensure that the farmers in the state benefit the technological advancements made in the field of agriculture across the world, Chief Minister Vasundhra Raje said today.
Addressing the function for the inauguration of a seed processing centre and a training centre for farmers in Bassi near Jaipur, Raje said, "the government is committed to ensure that the farmers become progressive...Take advantage of new technologies and thus be prosperous."
The CM said that the idea of unconventional farming conceived by her government in 2005 could get shape in Dhindhol near Bassi in the form of olive and other crops.
"We learnt about Israel doing well in agriculture despite being a desert state by way of adopting new techniques and then decided to make it possible for Rajasthan," she said.
Raje said olive plants grown at the nursery here are now being sent to Himachal Pradesh, Gujarat, Jammu and Kashmir and other states. "Many progressive farmers are visiting the centre at Bassi," she said.
Emphasising on the importance of seed certification, Raje said, "The state government has put in place a system for certification of seeds including for those exported. Only certified seeds should reach farmers."
She also criticised excessive use of chemical fertilizers in agriculture, particularly for horticultural produces.
"The public does not like such crops as they cause a lot of health problems. Farmers should adopt organic farming, at least in some parts of their fields and especially for horticultural crops. You should also practice drip irrigation methods to save water," Raje said.
Prior to this, Raje visited 'Centre of Excellence' where she saw olive, capsicum, cherry tomato, strawberry, cucumber, gerbera flower and other crops being produced using Israeli techniques.
She also inspected the bee-keeping and other practices at the centre. Agriculture Minister Prabhulal Saini and others accompanied her.
