Union Minister of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare Shri Narendra Singh Tomar today inaugurated the CAU- Regional Agri Fair 2020-21 through video conferencing at a formal function held at CAU Central Farm, Lamphelpat on Monday. The Regional Agri Fair 2020-21 under the theme “Agriculturally Vibrant & Self Reliant NEH Region” and International Women’s Day 2021 was organized by Central Agricultural University (CAU), Imphal.

Narendra Singh Tomar also virtually inaugurated various infrastructures including Model Fish Farm on integrated System at Lamphelpat; Library Cum Dispensary, Nursery School Building, Food Processing Unit and MTTC-VTC at College of Community Science, Tura, Meghalaya; Boys Hostel and Girls Hostel at College of Horticulture, Thenzawl, Mizoram; MTTC-VTC at College of Fisheries, Lembucherra, Tripura and KVK Sepahijala Administrative Building in Tripura.

The inaugural function was attended by Chief Minister  N. Biren Singh as functional president. Deputy Chief Minister  Y. Joykumar Singh, Members of Parliament, Lok Sabha Dr. R.K Ranjan Singh and Dr. Lorho S. Pfoze, Director General (ICAR, New Delhi) Dr. Trilochan Mohapatra, Organising Secretary, Deen Dayal Upadhya Shodh Sansthan, New Delhi  Abhay Mahajan and Vice-Chancellor, CAU, Imphal Dr. Anupam Mishra also attended the function among others.

Addressing the gathering as Chief Guest,   Narendra Singh Tomar gave his best wishes to every woman of the country on the occasion of International Women’s Day and stated that women had been taking equal part in bringing progress and development in the Country. Mentioning names of different women personalities of North Eastern States, he added that women from the region had made the Country proud in different fields and disciplines at many instances.

He further stated that the Regional Agri Fair would be much helpful to farmers of North East in increasing their production and getting access to new farming technologies. He also maintained the Union Government had been putting in efforts for the welfare of farmer’s community with certain Schemes like Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, PM Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana and Soil Health Card Schemes among others.

Appreciating the leadership quality of   N. Biren Singh for taking the State to a new height of development, he also expressed that law and order of Manipur had considerably improved.

Delivering his presidential speech, Chief Minister   N. Biren Singh stated that the Regional Agri Fair would provide opportunities for meaningful interaction, collaboration and knowledge sharing amongst farmers of the North Eastern Region apart from showcasing the potential of the agriculture sector in the region. Stating that farmers are now much aware of the dynamics of free-market economy, he added that farmers had started adopting improved techniques, inputs and efficient market linkages thereby ensuring better returns.

N. Biren, while stressing the needs to put more efforts and focus on promoting cultivation and value addition of local products, said that the State Government had taken up various initiatives to export black scented rice, pineapple and other horticulture products in recent years. He further informed that the “One District One Product” Scheme had also been adopted in all 16 districts of Manipur to promote local products like ginger, turmeric, king chili, kiwi fruit etc.

He stated that the State had also adopted the Integrated Farming System in all districts focusing on high-value vegetables. He further informed that around 5,89,017 farmers of Manipur had been registered till date under the PM-KISAN Scheme and of this, nearly 60 per cent had availed the benefits in 2020-21. 

On the occasion of the International women’s Day Celebration, Chief Minister N. Biren Singh also honoured Padma Shri Awardee Hanjabam Radhe Sharmi, Arjun Awardees Oinam Bembem Devi and Bombayla Devi Laishram and Former Minister, Government of Madhya Pradesh Archana Chitnis.

During the function, N. Biren Singh also released certain publications including Souvenir of CAU-Regional Agri Fair, Extension Approaches & Strategies for Rural Transformation, KVK Aizawl Newsletter and Technical Bulletin of KVK, Andro. Later, he also inaugurated the Exhibition Stalls of the Fair participated by different Departments and various colleges of North Eastern Region.