NAMCHI, 16 Aug: The first initiative in follow-up to directions received during the Chief Minister’s Sikkim Brahman was flagged off today here at the Community Centre with the launch of the “Chief Minister’s Package for Dry and Backward Areas of South District” for 24 villages in the district covering 350 beneficiaries.
The event, organized jointly by the Horticulture and Cash Crop Development Department and Food Security and Agriculture Development Department, was attended by Chief Minister Pawan Chamling as the chief Guest accompanied by, among others, the Agriculture Minister, DN Thakarpa, RMDD Minister CB Karki, Buildings & Housing Minister Tilu Gurung, MLAs Tulsi Devi, Binod Rai, Sonam Gyatso Bhutia, Phitook Tshering Lama, Adakshya and Upadakshya South.
Explaining the scheme, the CM informed that during his village-to-village tour of the two districts, he noticed that many rural belts were facing water scarcity, and the government, in response, decided to provide water-harvesting options and dug-out ponds to farmers of the more drought affected areas.
This, he said, was the first step towards the fulfilment of the various demands placed by the farmers during his tour.
With the focus on farmers, the CM also observed that even though all other sectors had changed for the better, agriculture in Sikkim continued to remain rudimentary and old fashioned. The present initiative, he pointed out, was an effort towards injecting technologically refined tools to assist farming with the aim that the farmers will in turn be inspired to change their methods to suit the new demand trends and requirements.
He also focussed on the Organic State plans of the government.
“Fidel Castro transformed Cuba into a complete Organic Country and I am working towards making Sikkim the first full-fledged Organic State of the country by the year 2015,” he announced.
He further informed that the countries like Argentina have shown interest in purchasing pure organic products, including dairy products, from Sikkim, and urged farmers to join the organic initiative and make it a success.
He added that Organic State status would bring multiple benefits to the people and gift the next generation of the state the joy and exclusivity of being the first citizens of the world to thrive on ‘Organic Tourism’.
Adding that the Government will assist farmers in marketing organic produce, he announced that Kisan Bazaars will be fully functional soon in all the four districts of Sikkim, and if necessary, the government will also extend ‘Price Support’ to them.
Making an important announcement, the Chief Minister said that the Government has decided to invest Rs. 2 crores each in 19 GPUS of South and West Sikkim falling in drought prone areas. While of these 10 GPUs fall in South, remaining 9 GPUs falls in West District.
He also announced plans to hold ‘Jan Sunwais’ (Public Hearings) on each and every work sanctioned for specific area, which, he said, will not only ensure transparency but will also provide an opportunity to the public to monitor the works.
Earlier, the Agriculture Secretary, Vishal Chauhan, highlighted the aims and objectives of the programme launched today, informing that a total of 350 households were provided with water harvesting tanks worth Rs. 40,000 each and dug-out ponds costing Rs. 86,000 were provided to 90 households in South and West Sikkim. Minister, FS&ADD and HCCD DN Thakarpa also addressed the programme.
Earlier, the Chief Minister inaugurated a Model Floriculture Centre established at Maniram. This is a first of its kind centre in the entire North East Region where Tissue Culture, Training Centre and Cold storage facilities have been appointed.
The event, organized jointly by the Horticulture and Cash Crop Development Department and Food Security and Agriculture Development Department, was attended by Chief Minister Pawan Chamling as the chief Guest accompanied by, among others, the Agriculture Minister, DN Thakarpa, RMDD Minister CB Karki, Buildings & Housing Minister Tilu Gurung, MLAs Tulsi Devi, Binod Rai, Sonam Gyatso Bhutia, Phitook Tshering Lama, Adakshya and Upadakshya South.
Explaining the scheme, the CM informed that during his village-to-village tour of the two districts, he noticed that many rural belts were facing water scarcity, and the government, in response, decided to provide water-harvesting options and dug-out ponds to farmers of the more drought affected areas.
This, he said, was the first step towards the fulfilment of the various demands placed by the farmers during his tour.
With the focus on farmers, the CM also observed that even though all other sectors had changed for the better, agriculture in Sikkim continued to remain rudimentary and old fashioned. The present initiative, he pointed out, was an effort towards injecting technologically refined tools to assist farming with the aim that the farmers will in turn be inspired to change their methods to suit the new demand trends and requirements.
He also focussed on the Organic State plans of the government.
“Fidel Castro transformed Cuba into a complete Organic Country and I am working towards making Sikkim the first full-fledged Organic State of the country by the year 2015,” he announced.
He further informed that the countries like Argentina have shown interest in purchasing pure organic products, including dairy products, from Sikkim, and urged farmers to join the organic initiative and make it a success.
He added that Organic State status would bring multiple benefits to the people and gift the next generation of the state the joy and exclusivity of being the first citizens of the world to thrive on ‘Organic Tourism’.
Adding that the Government will assist farmers in marketing organic produce, he announced that Kisan Bazaars will be fully functional soon in all the four districts of Sikkim, and if necessary, the government will also extend ‘Price Support’ to them.
Making an important announcement, the Chief Minister said that the Government has decided to invest Rs. 2 crores each in 19 GPUS of South and West Sikkim falling in drought prone areas. While of these 10 GPUs fall in South, remaining 9 GPUs falls in West District.
He also announced plans to hold ‘Jan Sunwais’ (Public Hearings) on each and every work sanctioned for specific area, which, he said, will not only ensure transparency but will also provide an opportunity to the public to monitor the works.
Earlier, the Agriculture Secretary, Vishal Chauhan, highlighted the aims and objectives of the programme launched today, informing that a total of 350 households were provided with water harvesting tanks worth Rs. 40,000 each and dug-out ponds costing Rs. 86,000 were provided to 90 households in South and West Sikkim. Minister, FS&ADD and HCCD DN Thakarpa also addressed the programme.
Earlier, the Chief Minister inaugurated a Model Floriculture Centre established at Maniram. This is a first of its kind centre in the entire North East Region where Tissue Culture, Training Centre and Cold storage facilities have been appointed.
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