Guwahati: Assam Agriculture Minister Pijush Hazarika on Friday conducted an on-site review of a key irrigation project in the state, reaffirming the government’s commitment to strengthening agricultural infrastructure and addressing the needs of farmers at the grassroots level.<\/p>\n
Sharing an update on social media platform X, the minister stated that he was “on the ground to review the progress of a key irrigation project and understand local requirements firsthand.” The visit comes amid the state government’s renewed focus on improving irrigation facilities and enhancing agricultural productivity across Assam.<\/p>\n
The field inspection follows a high-level review meeting chaired by Hazarika earlier in the day, during which he assessed the performance of the Agriculture Department and reviewed the implementation status of various Central Government schemes. The minister examined challenges faced by officials in executing key agricultural programmes and outlined measures to improve their reach and effectiveness.<\/p>\n
During the meeting, Hazarika stressed the importance of increasing farmer enrolment under flagship schemes such as the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) and the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY). He directed officials to launch an intensive registration drive, noting that while Assam currently has around 27 lakh registered farming families, a significant number of eligible farmers are still not covered under these welfare schemes.<\/p>\n
Highlighting the need for agricultural diversification, the minister emphasized the role of horticulture in enhancing farmers’ incomes. He observed that a large section of Assam’s farming community remains dependent on paddy cultivation and said horticulture offers substantial opportunities for income growth.<\/p>\n
To accelerate this transition, Hazarika directed the Agriculture Department to convene a day-long review meeting with District Agriculture Officers (DAOs) from all 35 districts in Guwahati on June 14. During the meeting, district officials will be assigned specific targets for distributing 15 lakh horticulture saplings among nearly five lakh farmers across the state over the next month. Local legislators will also be consulted to help identify beneficiaries in their respective constituencies.<\/p>\n
The minister also took a firm stand against the sale of poor-quality agricultural inputs. He instructed the department to issue warnings to all licensed Beej Bhandars and seed stockists, directing them to ensure that only quality-certified seeds are sold to farmers. Vendors found violating the guidelines will face blacklisting and legal action, he warned.<\/p>\n
Recognising the importance of infrastructure development in agriculture, Hazarika called for stronger coordination between the Agriculture and Irrigation Departments. He noted that effective irrigation systems are essential for improving crop yields, reducing dependence on rainfall and ensuring sustainable agricultural growth.<\/p>\n
The minister further directed officials to hold discussions with the Industries Department regarding the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF) to ensure better convergence of schemes and maximise benefits for farmers.<\/p>\n
Senior officials attending the review meeting included Agriculture Department Commissioner and Secretary Aruna Rajoria, Assam Agricultural University Vice-Chancellor Dibyajyoti Rajkhowa, Director of Agriculture Ratul Pathak and other departmental representatives.<\/p>\n
The minister’s field visit to the irrigation project and his emphasis on expanding farmer outreach, improving infrastructure and promoting horticulture signal the state’s broader strategy to modernise agriculture and increase rural incomes through targeted interventions and effective implementation of government schemes.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Guwahati: Assam Agriculture Minister Pijush Hazarika on Friday conducted an on-site review of a key irrigation project in the state, reaffirming the government’s commitment to strengthening agricultural infrastructure and addressing…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":3739,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":"","_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3738","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-assam"],"yoast_head":"\n