Ch'garh, Raj farmers to exchange ideas to boost agriculture

Raipur, Aug 26: In a move to promote innovation in agriculture sector, farmers of Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh will exchange experiences based on new experiments being done in the field of farming in both the states.

"The two states have different climatic conditions as well as variety in types of soil. Exchanging new ideas and best practices will help farmers of both the states to combat challenges faced in agriculture sector, besides enhancing productivity," an agriculture department official said today.

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh had during a meeting with Rajasthan's Agriculture Minister Prabhulal Saini recently at Kota in the western state expressed mutual consent on this step, he said. It has been decided that atleast 50 farmers from Chhattisgarh will be sent on a study tour to Jaipur where they will also attend the agri-tech fair to be held from November 9 to 11, he said.

The farmers of Rajasthan were also invited here for studying advanced methods of farming, specially in horticulture crops sector. The Rajasthan government was informed in the meeting about various new practices underway in the field of horticulture in Chhattisgarh, like preparation of clusters of guava, lemon, custard apples and berries and the ongoing plantation of cashew saplings alongside the roads at wide-level, the official said.

Besides, initiatives like use of solar energy to ensure drinking water supply in villages of Chhattisgarh and distribution of solar irrigation pumps to farmers were also appreciated by officials there, he said.

Similarly, according to Rajasthan government, the state is the leading producer of cumin, mustard, and barley and even they had developed west Rajasthan as hub of date palm production, the official said. The exchange of innovative ideas among the farmers of different states will help them to take up production of new crops according to the standard procedure, he added.

PTI