Kunal Rai
Gangtok: November 25, 2011

The various demands of the villagers of Upper Burtuk sanctioned during the CM’s village to village tour have been sanctioned.

The sanction order for 162 beneficiaries for tubular structure green house and 149 beneficiaries for water harvesting tanks was distributed by Minister for Agriculture, Horticulture and Cash Crop Development Department DN Thakarpa .The tubular structure green house provided to 162 beneficiaries costs about Rs. 2,12,62,500. Whereas the water harvesting tanks having capacity of 20,000 liters was facilitated to 31 beneficiaries, which costs around Rs. 12,40,000. Likewise 10,000 liters capacity tanks were distributed to 110 beneficiaries which costs around 22 lakhs, and eight poly tanks with 2000 liters capacity with a cost of 1,12,000. During the program the sanction order, work order for the construction of water harvesting were handed out to the beneficiaries inclusive of 50% subsidy in the construction. The construction works were awarded to the beneficiaries directly but only after availing the monitoring report from the Block Administrative Center the subsidy and the fund involved for the construction would be released. He was accompanied by in charge Upper Burtuk Constituency DT Lepcha, Advisor for the Department BM Ramudamu, Advisor STCS BB Lopchan, Zilla Adhyaksha (East) Bimal Dawari, Secretary HCCD, FS&AD Bishal Chauhan, Principal Director DK Rai, BDO Ranka Urvashi Poudyal along with the officials of the organizing department and Panchayat members.

In his address Minister Thakarpa said that every facility required for the development of agriculture and horticulture in the state is being provided by the government and the department is even working tirelessly to boom the sector. The distributions made today are those which were sanctioned by the CM during his tour on the spot. The CM soon after completion of the tour prioritized the agriculture, horticulture, animal husbandry sector and even provided the required fund under first priority as people currently rests in the productivity of products. Adding more he mentioned that every demand placed by the people during the tour will be fulfilled in a phase wise manner but under agriculture sector till date every possible facility required by the farmers have been met and is still being availed. Now it is the time for the farmers to showcase their productivity by growing maximum products sufficing the requirement of the state along with supplying the products outside state, he added.

Under organic mission 11% land available after forestry and infrastructure development will be certified as organic and the process in state has already begun. Till date a total of 18000 hectors have been certified whereas the target is to cover 50,000 hectors by 2012. Informing more Minister stated that the
organic certification will not only increase the fertility of the land but will also raise the economy of the state benefitting the farmers maximum.

The demands for the organic products have been already placed by numerous countries outside nation and within nation but the quantity of demand are huge and the price is unbelievable so its high time for the growers, farmers to join together to produce maximum products to mitigate the requirement placed. The department considering the organic mission has also lunched soil testing vans which will be carrying out soil testing across state and will provide soil health report and the fertility of the soil in state to increase the productivity added Minister Thakarpa.The marketing of the products produced are even planned by the department under which numerous cold storage facility within the state and godown facility at Bagdogra and NJP are also focused to transport the products to other parts of the nation in days ahead.

The department has also started introducing modern technology in the agriculture and horticulture sector with an aim of encouraging, attracting the educated youths who have totally drifted from the age old practice of farming. Furthermore he informed that similar kind of program has been already completed in north district whereas in days ahead south and west districts beneficiaries amounting to 1200 will be facilitated.

Secretary Bishal Chauhan in his address mentioned that the construction of the green house will be completed within 31st December for upper Burtuk constituency. The order for the construction has been placed before SIMFED. Whereas of water harvesting tank construction work must be completed on or before 31march 2012, to prevent the fund from lapsing, he said.The department holds numerous schemes on agriculture, horticulture, fruit, floriculture, species and many more but what lacks is the people’s participation in developing the sectors available, added Secretary.Earlier the program was also addressed by Advisor BM Ramudamu, Principal Director HCCD and In Charge Upper Burtuk Constituency DT Lepcha as well. Huge public participation was seen on the programme which was held at the Ranka BAC complex on November 24, 2011.

Sikkim Mail

 

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