ES Reporter

ITANAGAR, Jun 30: The Arunachal Farmers’ Union (AFU) through a press conference on Tuesday drew attention of the state government about the various challenges being faced by the farming community in the state.
The challenges highlighted by the AFU included poor access to markets, lack of access to finance, inefficient supply chains, inadequate cold storage facilities, chronic underfunding of operational and infrastructural build-up activities, shortage of lab technicians for soil testing and deficiency of other staff. The union’s President Nabam Akam while urging the state government to ensure that real beneficiaries get the benefits of the Kitchen Garden Scheme, also highlighted the need for field visits by the concerned authority to identify the true beneficiaries. The above scheme has been launched by the state government wherein 2000 households in each assembly constituency would be provided land for cultivation on block-wise basis.
Akam also urged the state movement to set up cold storages in every district so that perishable products can be stored for a prolonged period. “No concrete policy measures have been initiated to protect the interests of farmers and if plans, policies, inventions and benefits do not reach them, agriculture will not develop in the state,” he said, underlying that lack of proper support system and awareness is delaying the transition from traditional farming methods to modern techniques.
Detailing the difficulties, AFU President said: “Farmers in the state are facing numerous problems and the palm oil farmers in particular are suffering due to lack of a proper water management system during the dry season and till now no assistance has been provided despite existence of provisions in the guidelines.”  He further requested the state government to take effective steps to eradicate the foot and mouth disease in livestock and monitor the spread of swine flu in pigs. Reiterating the need for field visits to have a more concrete assessment of the farmers’ woes, the union President appealed the concerned department not to appoint any handicapped staff as Field Assistants as it will be difficult for them to make field visits in remote and hilly areas.

“State government should come up with an action-oriented plan and an inclusive strategy to lay a solid foundation for a more productive and diversified agricultural sector in Arunachal,” AFU President opined.

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

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