Union Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh on Tuesday said that his ministry is planning to submit a proposal to Prime Minister Narendra Modi regarding the predicted drought situation in western India.
Earlier, Singh met a delegation of BJP legislators from Maharashtra headed by state unit president Devendra Fadnavis.
“In western India, drought situations have been predicted. We have made contingency plans keeping in mind specially Vidarbha and other similar districts, which are prone to drought. They (the delegation) have informed me that the condition of water bodies is very bad. There are a lot of problems with regards to drinking water supply. So, we will meet the state and the central government and help the farmers as much as we can. We are also making a proposal which lists out the various kinds of help that can be tended for the farmers and will submit it to the Prime Minister for further action,” said Singh in New Delhi.
Singh also discussed about the need for establishing human resources department specifically for the farmers and their associations in order to boost them morally and physically and prevent them from committing suicide.
The delegation of BJP legislators also demanded the establishment of an agricultural university which could be of long-term use for the state and to bring in more transport facilities to ease the farmers’ burden of travelling by buses.
Singh assured the delegation of fulfilling their demands at the earliest.
He assured that his Ministry would favourably consider the establishment of a Central Agricultural University in Maharashtra.
Their demand for a second Krishi Vigyan Kendra in bigger districts and opening of ICAR institutes on dairy farming, soil and water testing, integrated pest management and horticulture will also be looked into, the Minister said. (ANI)