Ranchi, March 14 Union Minister Sanjay Seth urged agricultural scientists and farmers in Jharkhand to work together to develop Ranchi as the millet capital of the country, and said that the production and consumption of this nutritious grain have been continuously increasing over the past five years.
Seth, the Minister of State for Defence, along with Jharkhand Agriculture Minister Shilpi Neha Tirkey, inaugurated a three-day agro-tech farmers' fair at the Birsa Agricultural University (BAU) here.
He said that the Centre is willing to sign an agreement with the university so that ragi (madua) biscuits and other millet products developed by BAU can be made available in military canteens across the country.
Emphasizing the promotion of organic agricultural production in Jharkhand, he said that the taste of Ranchi's tomatoes, papaya, jackfruit, peas, and capsicum is unmatched by the produce of other states.
"Under the Prime Minister's Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme, 9.32 crore farmers, including 2.15 crore women, in the country receive Rs 6,000 annually," Seth said.
Farmers over 60 years of age are receiving a monthly pension of Rs 3,000 from the central government, and 2.53 lakh farmers from Jharkhand are beneficiaries of the scheme, the minister said.
"For the last five years, 82 crore people in the country have been receiving 5 kg of free rations every month," he added.
Tirkey said that the state government has launched the Madua Kranti Yojana, under which farmers cultivating 'madua' (finger millet) receive an incentive of Rs 3,000 per acre.
She said that in the era of climate change and uncertain rainfall, farmers must combine their traditional agricultural knowledge with modern technology.
"The country will only become strong when farmers, laborers, and villages prosper. The state government understands farmers' problems, their needs, and priorities. The administration is supporting them through several schemes," Tirkey said.
A total of 14 progressive farmers were felicitated on the occasion for their contributions to innovative farming and animal husbandry.
A total of 135 stalls have been set up at the fair.