Ahmedabad : In a bid to promote modern agricultural practices and natural farming, Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel inaugurated the state-wide 'Rabi Agriculture Festival 2023' on Friday. The two-day festival, held in all 246 tehsils across the state, aims to bring agricultural research to the ground and provide maximum benefits to farmers.
Key Highlights of the Rabi Agriculture Festival
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Emphasis on modern farming techniques: The festival highlighted the use of modern technologies such as drones for spraying nano liquid urea, demonstrating the state government's commitment to innovation in agriculture.
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Promotion of natural farming: The festival also focused on promoting natural farming practices, with the Chief Minister stating that over 18 lakh farmers in the state have received training in natural farming and more than 8.5 lakh farmers have adopted it.
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Support for millet cultivation: In line with the International Millet Year, the Chief Minister encouraged farmers to cultivate millets, emphasizing their nutritional value and growing market demand.
Government's Initiatives for Farmers
The state government has taken several initiatives to support farmers, including:
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Providing timely support prices: The government has declared support prices for various crops to ensure minimum income for farmers.
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Supplying cheap electricity: The government has not increased electricity tariffs for farmers in the last 10 years to reduce their input costs.
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Strengthening farmer's economy: The government has implemented various schemes aimed at doubling farmers' income and enhancing their economic well-being.
The inaugural ceremony also included a cow worship ritual, a demonstration of drone technology, and an agricultural exhibition. The Chief Minister presented awards to farmers for their outstanding contributions to the agricultural sector.
Gujarat's Agricultural Achievements
Gujarat has made significant strides in the agricultural sector, ranking first in the country in the production of groundnut, castor, sapota, papaya, okra, pomegranate, celery, and cumin. The state is also second in the production of sesame, cotton, and horticulture crops like pomegranate.
The Rabi Agriculture Festival is a testament to the Gujarat government's dedication to the development of the agricultural sector and its commitment to empowering farmers. By promoting modern farming techniques, natural farming, and millet cultivation, the festival aims to further enhance the state's agricultural productivity and ensure the prosperity of its farmers.
