Agri Min asks states to take advantage of infra fund for benefit of small farmers

New Delhi, Sept 7: Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Narendra Singh Tomar on Tuesday encouraged the states to take advantage of the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund for the benefit of the small and marginal farmers who remain deprived of warehousing and cold storage facilities.

Addressing the Chief Ministers conference on the 2^nd day, he said the fund will give a boost to the infrastructure development in the agriculture sector and a user-friendly portal has been set up for easy sanction.

Referring to the Union Cabinet’s decision to launch the National Edible Oil Mission, he said the mission will immensely benefit the palm oil farmers, increase capital investment, generate employment, reduce dependence on imports and increase the income of farmers.

Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal, referring to the ‘One District, One Product’ Imitative, said that 106 products have been identified from 103 districts for the export market and that red rice is now being exported to the USA and Jackfruit from Tripura is being sent to the UK.

Ministers of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Shobha Karandlaje and Kailash Choudhary attended the conclave, during which the CMs and Agriculture Ministers appreciated the Centre for the development of agriculture sector, said a government statement.