Mangan, June 1 : (IPR)
The department of Agriculture, Horticulture and Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Services, Government of Sikkim distributed various agricultural inputs and tokens to the Landslide affected households of Upper Lingchom and farmers of Lingchom Tingda Gram Panchayat Unit under Kabi Lunchok constituency, today. The Hon'ble Minister for Agriculture, Horticulture and Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services Shri Lok Nath Sharma and the Hon'ble Minister-cum-Area MLA Shri Karma Loday Bhutia jointly handed over tokens to the beneficiaries at Community Recreational Centre, Lingchom.
The eleven landslide affected families and beneficiaries of Lingchom Tingda GPU received various inputs including 10 numbers of Syntax Tank, 12 numbers of Polypipe, Two Power Tiller, 10 Richforti plus under Horticulture Department and Two Community vermi compost pit, 12 numbers of Polypipe, Soyabean seeds, green gold manure and Six Knapsack sprayer under Agriculture Department.
Additionally, tokens of three weeks old twenty chickens were handed over to each twenty beneficiaries amongst 125 declared beneficiaries under Rural Backyard Poultry Development programme under Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services Department. Farmers also received improved seed storing bags and improved Sickles, scientifically designed by Krishi Vigyan Kendra Mangan.
Addressing the affected families and the beneficiaries, Minister Agriculture, Horticulture and Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services Shri Lok Nath Sharma expressed heartfelt condolences to the Upper Lingchom Landslide Victim families and wished for speedy recovery of injured persons, on behalf of the Hon'ble Chief Minister and the people of Sikkim. He also urged everyone to take optimum benefits of the departmental inputs and tokens in earning their livelihood, sincerely.
Elucidating the importance of agricultural profession, Minister Sharma said that the global crisis of COVID 19 has given a key message to realise human indispensability on agriculture and urged people to adopt farming as an essential component of healthy lifestyle.
He also informed about the provision of subsidised loan dedicated to the farmers in banking sector and shared about the ongoing work progress in developing an effective mechanism and convenient procedure for farmers to avail subsidised loan. While, the interested farmers should come forward with complete commitment, he added.
He also informed that the state government will conduct a survey of uncultivated private land holding for proper utilisation of unused land for farming purpose. Viewing the geographical terrain and resource potential of the locality, he advised educated youths and farmers to adopt fisheries and piggery farming on priority and further elaborated its scope to boost economy and self reliance. Further he assured to provide all possible support from government's end to support farmers.
Minister Sharma also added that the state of Sikkim is well protected and safe from COVID-19 pandemic because of appropriate preventive measures initiated by the Government in advance stage.
Minister-cum-Area MLA Shri Karma Loday expressed gratitude to the Agriculture, Horticulture and AH&VS Department for distributing various agricultural inputs to the people of the locality and urged them to use technical items carefully and judiciously.
Minister Bhutia underlined low fertility potential of the area and urged for initiation of fisheries, piggery and cattle farming activities in the North District. He also urged to provide training to the farmers. In his brief address Shri Bhutia informed that the state government has provided ex-gratia to the victim family of Upper Lingchom landslide, immediately after the incident.
Secretary Horticulture Shri MT Sherpa also urged for proper utilisation of all technical inputs like power tiller. He also highlighted various schemes under Horticulture Department and assured to provide all guidance and support to the farmers