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New Delhi : Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Radha Mohan Singh while addressing the concluding ceremony of All India Farmers’ Fair and Agro-Industrial Exhibition in Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture & Technology, Pantnagar, Uttarakhand, said the Government is committed to doubling farmer’s income by 2022 so that they can live a life of happiness and prosperity.
Uttarakhand CM Trivendra Singh Rawat, Agriculture and Horticulture Minister Subodh Uniyal and A K Misra, Vice-Chancellor of the universiy, also graced the occasion.
Radha Mohan appreciated the work of Govind Ballabh Pant Agriculture and Technology University, Pantnagar, and said the university found a place in 200 best universities of BRICS countries in 2016. As recently as this month, the university was also rated among the 350 best universities in Asia thereby making it only the second Agriculture University to get this recognition, he said. This university has done remarkable work in the field of agricultural research, education and expansion.
Radha Mohan also inaugurated a seed processing plant of National Seeds Corporation (NSC) inside the university premises. He was appreciative of the fact that for the first time, a seed processing plant has been set up by NSC which will help solve the problem of seed production in hilly regions. The variety of seeds used in hilly regions are not commercial viable for production in plains. The transportation of seeds for processing from hilly regions increases the cost of seeds.
The Agriculture Minister said the Prime Minister and the Government are committed to doubling farmer’s income by 2022 and for this the Government has increased the budgetary allocation of Agriculture and Farmer Welfare Ministry in the budget 2018-19 to Rs 58,080 crore from Rs 51,576 crore in 2017-18, according to a PIB release.