“Farmers’ Fair” organized

19th March, 2022, Jodhpur

“The farmers and farm women should adopt the latest and improved agricultural technologies in a holistic manner and get benefitted from the various Schemes and Programmes being run by the Government of India”, urged Shri Kailash Choudhary, Union Minister of State for Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare. Shri Choudhary was addressing the “Farmers’ Fair” organized by the Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Barmer - II, Gudamalani, ICAR-Agricultural Technology Application Research Institute, Zone - II, Jodhpur, Rajasthan at Village Padru today.

The Minister regarded the farmers as the backbone of the country’s economy. Shri Choudhary underlined the “PM Kisan Samman Nidhi” Programme that is aimed to benefit the farming community. He stated that by establishing the Processing Unit of Pomegranate, the farmers can prepare Juice, Anar Dana and Essential Oils which are very high value items. Similarly, by Processing of Sangari (Unripen Fruits of Khejri Tree), the farmers can earn Rs. 1,000 to Rs. 1,500 per Kg in the local market and by exporting the same they can earn Rs. 5,000 to Rs. 7,000 per Kg.

Shri Choudhary advised the farmers to plant the new variety of Khejri “Thar Shobha” on their field boundaries for getting the early (from 2nd Year onward) and quality yield of sangari. The ways in which the Pearl Millet, grown on a large area in the District, can be processed for the value-addition by making Biscuits, Kurkure (Crunchy Puffs), Chocolate and Cakes, etc., were also underlined by the Minister. By following this, he stated that the farmers can increase the value of Pearl Millet from Rs. 13 or Rs. 14 to Rs. 300 or Rs. 600 per Kg.

The importance of focussing on the organic and natural farming for the farmers to become “Aatma Nirbhar” was highlighted in the Minister’s address.

Shri Hameer Singh Bhayal, MLA, Sivana advised the farmers to get benefitted by the Government Schemes.

Shri Amra Ram Choudhary, Former Revenue Minister, Government of Rajasthan urged the farmers to organize themselves to avail the benefits of the various Government Programmes and Schemes.

Dr. B.R. Choudhary, Vice-Chancellor, Agriculture University, Jodhpur, Rajasthan highlighted the various improved agro-techniques developed by the University and urged the farmers to adopt them for enhancing their income.

Dr. Suresh Pal, Director, ICAR-National Institute of Agricultural Economics and Policy Research, New Delhi encouraged the farmers for having the Kisan Credit Cards for easy loan and also join the Farmer’s Producers’ Organizations (FPOs) for better marketing.

Earlier, welcoming the dignitaries, Dr. Pradeep Pagaria, Senior Scientists & Head, Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Barmer - II, Gudamalani outlined the main objective of the Fair.

More than 3,500 Farmers, Farm Women and Rural Youths along with 30 Public Representatives and 15 Senior Officials from State Agricultural Universities, ICAR Institutes, ICAR-ATARI - II, Jodhpur; KVKs and State Line Departments, etc., participated in the Fair.

(Source: ICAR-Agricultural Technology Application Research Institute, Zone - II, Jodhpur, Rajasthan)