Sharad Pawar to inaugurate NE conferences in Gangtok, tour Sikkim

GANGTOK, 26 Nov [IPR]: Union Minister of Agriculture and Food Processing Industries, Sharad Pawar, is scheduled to be in Sikkim from 27 November to 01 December 2013.
During his stay here, he will be inaugurating the conference of the Agriculture and Horticulture Ministers of North Eastern States at Chintan Bhawan, Gangtok on 28 November 2013.
On 29 November the Union Minister will be presiding over the Conference of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries Ministers of North Eastern States at Chintan Bhawan, Gangtok. The programme on both the days will start at 10 am. During his visit the Union Minister will also be visiting the College of Agriculture Engineering, Marchak, East Sikkim and Temi Tea Estate, South Sikkim on 30 November.
This conference of the Agriculture and Horticulture Ministers of North Eastern States is an annual event in the agriculture calendar of the country, held with the main objective to discuss important issues related to development of agriculture, horticulture, animal husbandry and allied activities in the Northeast region. This is the highest platform to formulate agriculture policies for the Northeast.
A very high level delegation from the Department of Agriculture, Horticulture, Animal Husbandry and Cooperation, Government of India headed by the Agriculture Minister shall be attending the conference. The Northeastern states shall be represented by their respective Ministers accompanied by departmental delegations.
The states will be presenting their respective achievements in both agriculture and horticulture sector vis-à-vis investments, projecting growth trends. Also, the burning issues needing immediate attention will also feature during the deliberations.

Sharad Pawar to visit Sikkim

GANGTOK, 21 Nov: Union Agriculture Minister, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar, will be in Sikkim on a 4-day visit next week to attend two conferences of ministers of North Eastern states. He is expected to arrive on 27 November, next Wednesday.
The Union Minister will be attending the North East States’ Agriculture Ministers’ conference on 28 November followed by another conference with NE Animal Husbandry and Fisheries Ministers on 29 November at Chintan Bhawan, it is learnt.
He will also inaugurate the annexe building of the College of Agricultural Engineering and Post-Harvest Technology [CAEPHT] at Ranipool on 30 November.
Ministers of Animal Husbandry and Agriculture from all the eight Northeastern states will be arriving in Gangtok on 26 and 27 November for the annual conference. The last conference was held in Assam.
Official sources inform that the Union Agriculture Ministry has confirmed Mr. Pawar’s visit to Sikkim and also approved the programme list in consultation with the State Agriculture, Horticulture and Cash Crops Development department and Animal Husbandry, Fisheries and Livestock department.
On his maiden visit to Sikkim, the Union Agriculture Minister is also expected to visit Temi Tea estate but this is yet to be confirmed.
Meanwhile, Mr. Pawar was briefly admitted to the Bombay Hospital in Mumbai today following complaints related to high blood pressure. It is not yet known whether this could change his itinerary.