Union Minister for Agriculture, Farmers Welfare and Rural Development Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan today held review meeting on Agriculture issues with the senior officials of the Agriculture Ministry. Several issues related to the farm produce, marketing of Agri products including the import and export of the produce and weather conditions figured in the review meeting.
The Minister said, apart from he himself holding weekly meeting on the farm issues, he shall also periodically hold meetings with the State Governments at the Agriculture Ministers level. He wanted even the officials to consistently engage with the State Governments on these issues, as addressing the issues at ground level would require involvement of the State Governments officials.
Such discussions shall also include the whole gamut of associated issues like right price of the produce, discuss issues of farmers’ distress, discuss issues like sowing. Marketing, sale, import-export of the produce, weather etc.
A review meeting with States shall be held tomorrow on the lentil rates prevailing and the procurement prices of all varieties of lentils including Arhar, Chana, Masur etc. for both Kharif 2024 and Rabi 2024 crops.
The Trade Division would compile every week, a comparative analysis on the need for import of lentils/oil seeds vis-à-vis production and consumption patterns in the country. A similar exercise for export of produce shall also be presented.
Such an analysis would be detailed including Chana, Arhar and Masoor etc. with their cost and benefit for farmers and consumers and the possible interventions that can be undertaken by DAFW.
A detailed protocol on pest management and pesticides distributing including the issues of MRP would be regularly monitored through KVKs and the report will be submitted. This report shall also include the prevailing rates vis-à-vis Government notified rates.