Jharkhand to focus on agro-based industries

Ranchi, June 28 (UNI) Jharkhand government is planning to promote small-scale and agro-based industries in the state.

State Chief Secretary M K Mandal said here today the state government would ensure proper rehabilitation to the displaced people and ensure that industrialisation would not take place at the cost of displacing people.

A draft for rehabilitation programme has already been prepared, Mr Mandal said adding the government would encourage more investments in the agriculture sector .

Mr Mandal told mediapersons here that a number of Memorandum of Understandings (MoVs) had been signed with various industrialists.

''We have to remember that 80 per cent of the state's population are living in the rural areas and their main source of income is agriculture,'' he said.

While elaborating on the government's uphill task of turning Jharkhand into an agrcultural state, the Chief Secretary said land in the state was not fertile like Haryana and Chandigarh.

He said in order to develop this sector, the government was planning to extend irrigation facilities, start bio-farming, floriculture and develop animal husbandry, fisheries and dairy technology.

In order to link agriculture with industry, plan was afoot, in which small scale industries based on agriculture in rural areas would be launched, he added.

The government would also woo the mineral-based industries to invest in the agricultural sector in the state.

Replying to a question on fund allocation to agriculture sector, he admitted that it was quite low.

''But in every budget the government is increasing the funds for this sector, Mr Mandal said.

UNI AM-PRS JYN SBA KP1741