AGARTALA, May 23 (TIWN): Chief Minister Manik Sarkar on Saturday launched digitalised ICAR Mega Seed (Crops & Fisheries) at Agartala Pragna Bhawan during the conclusion day of 2 days 22nd meeting of the ICAR Regional Committee (Zone III) organised by Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) Research Complex for NEH Region, Meghalaya. CM Manik Sarkar addressing the gathering of the delegations from 8 north eastern states at Pragna Bhawan on Saturday said, “Not as a Scientists or agricultural expert but being a poor people of the state Tripura I must say that the country would not progress in agricultural sector without the lacks positive approach of the present Indian Government". Sarkar pushing the central govt. to adopt ‘pro-farmer’ policy said, “During the 100 days of the present govt. at the centre about 6000 farmers had committed suicide, whereas more than 2 lakhs farmers had left the agricultural farming and moved towards the urban areas of the nation.”“Out of 70 percent population of the nation about 3 lakhs farmers during the last decade had committed suicide due to wrong economic policy of the Central government,” Sarkar said. He claimed that centre does not think about the development and needs of the farmers and hence their condition is pathetic and often due to the huge financial burden they commit suicide.

Sarkar viewed that the development of the nation will come with agro-revolution and followed by industrialization. And both have to develop simultaneously for the development of the nation through proving employment to the coming generation. “The poorest section of the people of the nation either it be tribal or non tribal irrespective of caste, creed and sex are largely deprived by the central govt with lack of overall support,” Sarkar said.

Describing the crisis in the agriculture sector as "unfortunate", Sarkar said massive indebtedness, lack of credit at affordable interests, lack of support price and sharp decline in government purchase of agricultural produce have added to the crisis.

“Despite the lack of support from the central govt. the state govt. here with a very limited resources has been eyeing forward to advance the agricultural sector,” adding Sarkar said, “But the state govt. alone cannot discharge its activities until the centre comes forward with its support to the state.”

Besides calling the agricultural scientists and the researches of the nation to play an active role Sarkar said, “The discoveries and the research works by the eminent scholars and the scientists must have to be translated into action from the grass root level.” Adding to that he said that scientists have a role to play active in changing the negative approach of the central govt. into a positive and adopting pro-farmers and pro-people policy.

However, besides, State Minister for Agriculture Aghore Debbarma said, “In lone Left ruled Tripura there has been no report of any farmer’s suicide as the state government takes care of the farmer’s need and provide socio-economic development through high variety seeds, fertilizers, irrigation, horticulture sapling, and poultry at subsidized rate.”

Dr. S Ayyappan, Director General ICAR addressing the ministers and other officials said, “It is highly appreciable that 90 percent of the fisheries and agriculture students in Mumbai are from Tripura Lembuchera centre.  

The eight north eastern state comprising of Tripura, Assam, Meghalaya, Manipur, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland and Sikkim had participated in the 2 days regional committee meeting began from May 22 at Agartala Pragna Bhawan. Several issues related to agriculture, fishery, and veterinary have been deliberated in this meeting.

Dr Mukul Sangma , Chief minister of Meghalaya who was scheduled to attend the meeting was not present. Agricultural scientists from all over the country and officers of the state departments sat together to deliberate on the R&D issues specific to this region.