By IANS,
Kolkata : Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar Wednesday exuded confidence that the country’s eastern region could soon become a “food provider” to the nation from a “chronic food deficit zone”.
“Seeing the region’s performance in recent years and the dynamic political and administrative leadership totally committed to farmers’ welfare, I’m confident we can quickly convert the region from a chronic food deficit to food provider to the nation,” Pawar said here.
The agriculture minister was in the city to inaugurate the maiden session of the committee of the chief ministers of the seven eastern states – ‘Bringing Green Revolution in Eastern India’.
“I look forward to solution-oriented constructive suggestions from the state governments for boosting the country’s efforts in agriculture development,” Pawar said.
The minister said a special meeting the food ministry held for the eastern region last year to bolster procurement infrastructure brought out several constraints like shortage of warehouses, rice mills and transport.
“We need to overcome these constraints through special efforts,” Pawar said.
The minister added he held talks with his colleagues in power, finance and water ministries on the agricultural development in the region.
He said the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) was making an effort to raise credit disbursement among farmers in the region.
“Task forces in water and power ministries were created to liaise with the state power and irrigation departments for the convergence of their activities with those of the agriculture department,” he said.
West Bengal Chief Minster Mamata Banerjee and agriculture ministers of Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Bihar, Jharkhand and Assam attended the session.