Guj to bifurcate agriculture and animal husbandry deptts

Anand, July 8 (UNI) The Gujarat Government has proposed to bifurcate agriculture and animal husbandry departments, which have been tradionally considered to be complementary to each other for decades.

Disclosing this at a National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) function here yesterday, State Agriculture Minister Bhupendrasinh Chudasma said the bifurcation would provide both sectors autonomy and help them grow independently.

The Minister attributed much of the Gujarat's success story in the farm sector to NABARD co-operation in various welfare schemes for the rural sector.

He said with 12.6 per cent growth rate in agriculture, the state could well claim to be on way to ''second green revolution''.

It is also time to improve the qualitiy of farm produces to be globally competitive, Mr Chudasma added.

Earlier, Mr Chudasma opened NABARD's 23rd district development manager (DDM) office in the State as a part of the apex bank's concerted plan to finance the farm sector at the grassroot level, with the help of Government and non-Government organisations.

NABARD has so far opened DDMs in 23 out of 25 districts in the state, since it was launched in the country in 1989.

The core function of DDMs is to prepare and monitor potential linked credit plans, helping farmers set up self-help groups, farmers' club and implement various schemes.

On the occasion, NABARD Chief General Manager Bhawar Puri said loans totalling over Rs 5,000 crore have been disbursed in the state.

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