The government's new agricultural reforms have the potential of doubling the income of farmers in Northeast India, Head of Northeast Zone, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, LR Vishwanath said at a webinar of journalists from Northeast region on Monday.
The Press Information Bureau (PIB), Guwahati on Monday organised the webinar for journalists from across the Northeast region where experts from Agricultural University enlightened the media personnel about the recent cabinet decisions on agriculture reforms.
Around 26 journalists took part in the webinar which was held in a video conference. Journalists from four local dailies of the state, including Imphal Free Press, also took part in the occasion.
Vishwanath said the government of India has announced in the recent cabinet decisions that essential commodities will be viewed differently with the approval to amend the Essential Commodities Act. The government has now brought in freedom for the farmers through the decision, he said.
The recent agriculture reforms have the potential of doubling the income of farmers of the Northeast, he said. He emphasized that the media plays a key role in disseminating vital information regarding various government schemes to the people in regards to the ongoing crisis while addressing the opening session of the webinar.
The webinar also sought to set the narratives of the decisions through resource persons associated with the field of agriculture to the journalist so that it would reach to the people, he added.
Director of agriculture technology application research institute, ICAR, Umiam BC Deka spoke on the prospect of Northeast agriculture in the post COVID-19 scenario. In his address, he asserted that the business of proactive policy measures taken by the Union government is very impressive as growth in the agriculture sector in Northeast can be seen in recent days.
Professor department of Agricultural Economics and Farm Management, Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat Nivedita Deka talked about the agricultural scenario of Assam in post COVID scenario. In her address Deka highlighted about COVID challenges for agriculture and emergence of alternatives.
Director of Instruction, Central Agriculture University, S Basanta Singh discussed the agricultural Marketing Reforms in India. He said that agricultural marketing is a state subject and many states are either slow or reluctant to implement various reforms and legislations related to marketing even though they are considered necessary for developing the market and trade and improving the welfare of producers and consumers.
Joint director, PIB Guwahati Keerti Tiwari in her welcome address, said that India lives in its villages and the main aim of the workshop is that the developmental schemes for the welfare of the farmers reach the people.