Morung Express News
February 1
KOHIMA: Minister for Planning & Urban Development Dr Shurhozelie Liezietsu asserted that the very purpose of declaring 2006 as the “Year of the Farmers” is to boost the economy of the state through agricultural activities in which all the people should actively involve.
The Minister told the Central Executive Committee meeting of Nagaland People’s Front (NPF) Tuesday here that the government has already released the calendar of the “Year of the Farmers” in which many different programmes have been included.
“But I want to emphasis few points like awareness programmes, capacity building, crops zoning, and supply of improved seeds to the farmers, buy back scheme for their produce.
Celebrations, conferences, training etc. should be minimized but concentrate more on the ground to produce more,” Dr. Liezietsu suggested.
If the programme is implemented with good result, he said it should be extended to next year also.
He also suggested that APMC in all the districts should be reorganized so as to allow the new team to embark upon the year’s programme with new initiative and vigor.”
On the other hand, the Minister expressed dismay over the result of opinion poll floated by some local daily that 59.1 percent said this programme of the “Year of the Farmers” would not bring any benefit to the people.
“I wonder what groups of people have given their opinion before the programme was launched,” the Minister said.
The Government has substantially increased the budget for agriculture and allied sector from Rs. 35.09 crores in 2004-05 to Rs. 71.23 crores for the year 2006-07.
“We have high hope that this programme will yield good result to improve the economy of the state,” Dr. Liezietsu added.
