Rajasthan wants Maha industrialists to partner in farm sector

Mumbai, July 26: Rajasthan government is seeking technology and investments from Maharashtra to strengthen fast growing agriculture and related sectors in the desert state.

"We seek technology and investments to strengthen agriculture and allied sectors. We invite industrialists and farmers of Maharashtra to partner with Rajasthan in agri and related sectors," Rajasthan Minister of Agriculture Prabhu Lal Saini said here.

He was talking to reporters on the sidelines of a road show for 'Global Rajasthan Agritech Meet-2016' (GRAM).

GRAM, an agri-technology and business event, is being organised in association with Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) from November 9-11 at Jaipur. The event is an attempt to make the farm sector move up the value chain and attract investments in agri and allied sectors.

Saini said the state is focusing on technological innovations and high-yield practices in agriculture and allied sectors. The primary objective of GRAM is to ensure the economic empowerment of the farmers through accelerated yet sustainable growth in agriculture and to double farmer's income by 2022. Farmers would be taught various new techniques to be used which would help them earn more yields.

The Rajasthan government has initiated many policy changes in agriculture in recent past that relates to technological and infrastructural interventions for sustainable enhancement of farm productivity, reducing post harvest losses and promoting farm based industries.

Investors from across the globe will be able to tap the scope and potential of doing business with over 40,000 farmers who are expected to attend this three-day meet, he said.

Rajasthan will showcase investment opportunities in the sector involving products like pressure irrigation, solar pumps, custom hiring of farm machinery & implements, farm mechanisation and agro-processing, among others, Saini said.

The international event - which will have representations from The Netherlands, Israel, Australia and Canada - is expected to be attended by over 40,000 farmers.

It will provide a common platform for bringing everyone involved in the full value chain of agricultural ecosystem - farmers, academicians, scientists, technologists, agribusiness companies and policy makers, the Minister Saini said.

Rajasthan is a strong performer in agriculture and has 10 agro-climatic zones. The State Government has initiated enumerable policy changes in agriculture in recent past that relate to technological and infrastructural interventions for sustainable enhancement of farm productivity, he said.

PTI