Chief Minister Hemant Soren today said that farming and agriculture is a very big field in itself. Agriculture is an important subject for a state like Jharkhand. 80 per cent of the population of Jharkhand resides in rural areas, these people earn their living through farming. At present, modern technology has a big role in the field of agriculture. It has been almost 45 years since the establishment of Birsa Agricultural University in the state. This university is playing its role for the uplift of farmers in the state. A large number of students are being made capable in the field of agricultural science by this institute. By obtaining degrees from Birsa Agricultural University, many students are giving better guidance to farmers in the country and the world today. Inclusive education is being provided in the field of agriculture, horticulture, forest and research at Birsa Agricultural University.
The CM was addressing the inaugural ceremony of the three-day "Agrotech Kisan Mela-2025" organized at Birsa Agricultural University, Ranchi campus on Saturday.
Soren said that Jharkhand is a state settled in the plateau region. Although every state has different scales of farming, somewhere there is availability of water for irrigation, somewhere water is being delivered for irrigation work on the basis of arrangements. The farmer class is called Annadaata. He said that many activities are being done by Birsa Agricultural University towards upgrading the farmers, more work is yet to be done for the all-round development of the farmers. Birsa Agricultural University and the state government will work to give better direction to the farmers by creating a better coordination. He said that in the present time, along with traditional systems, there is a need to connect agriculture-farming work with modern technology. Sometimes due to changing weather, the people of the farmer class get discouraged, they can be saved from these problems only through technology.
The CM said that the state government is running many schemes for the benefit of farmers. He said that I come from an agricultural family. Earlier sugarcane was cultivated in our village, we have seen jaggery being made from sugarcane grown in the fields, but now sugarcane cultivation is almost negligible, there can be many reasons for this. There are many farmers who have given up agriculture on their farms. There is a shortage of cultivable land in our state, there is a need to work towards increasing cultivable land in the state. He said that our government is now working to deliver water to the fields through pipelines at many places. The state government is moving in the direction of lift irrigation.
The CM said that Birsa Agriculture University and the state government need to work together for positive development in the field of agriculture in the state. A better and stronger action plan will be made for the development of the agricultural sector. There is a need to make such arrangements so that the farmers can produce more and also provide them the market. The state government is committed to making a better policy by discussing all these things. He said that a blueprint should be made for what benefits the farmers here are getting from Birsa Agricultural University, what more benefits can be given in the coming time.
Soren said that special emphasis has been laid on all these things like water for irrigation to the farmers' fields in the state, timely distribution of seeds and fertilizers among the farmers. He said that it has been decided by the state government that Kisan Pathshaala will be set up in all the districts, where farmer brothers will get information and training on modern techniques of farming, animal husbandry, fish farming and other important activities. He said that the state government has also decided that the people of the farmer class of Jharkhand will get the benefit of more than one lakh well construction scheme. River pond and well are traditional means of irrigation. Boring sometimes fails, that is why the well construction scheme is being brought by the state government.
The CM said that the state government thinks that how the farmers here emerge as agripreneurs through farming, for this purpose work is being done in a planned manner. He said that you can do business by setting up small domestic processing units. The hard work of farmers never goes waste, they just need better guidance.
On this occasion, the book Birsa Krishi Margdarshak-2025 was released by the CM, Minister of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Cooperatives Department Shilpi Neha Tirkey and other dignitaries.
On the occasion, the CM and other guests visited the stalls set up at the Agrotech Kisan Mela and inquired about the objectives. The CM laid the foundation stone of the training hall and forest medicinal substance exhibition gallery under the National Agricultural Development Scheme in the Birsa Agricultural University campus.
On this occasion, Vice Chancellor, Birsa Agricultural University Ranchi Dr. Sunil Chandra Dubey, Additional Chief Secretary to the Chief Minister, Avinash Kumar, Director, Indian Institute of Agricultural Biotechnology, Ranchi Dr. Sujay Rakshit, Director, Extension Education Birsa Agricultural University Dr. Jagarnath Oraon and other senior officials were present.
