CM distributes machinery and equipment to farmers
Source: The Sangai Express / DIPR

Imphal, March 13 2021: Chief Minister N Biren Singh today distributed agriculture machinery and equipment under North Eastern Region Textiles Promotion Scheme to select farmers at a function held at City Convention Centre, Imphal.

He also distributed financial assistance of Rs 10,000 to handicraft artisans for buying tool kits under the Sub-Mission of Agriculture Mechanization (SMAM) Scheme and announced that the financial assistance would be increased to Rs 20,000 from next year.

The distribution function which was jointly organised by Department of Agriculture and Directorate of Handlooms & Textiles was attended by Textiles, Commerce and Industry Minister, Thongam Biswajit, Agriculture Minister, Oinam Lukhoi, Chairman, MHHDC Ltd S Achouba, Commissioner RK Dinesh, Commissioner M Joy, officials of Agriculture Department and Handloom & Textiles Department and beneficiaries among others.

CM distributes machinery and equipment to farmers

On the occasion, N Biren said that the State Government is taking up certain measures to save agricultural land as agriculture is an important sector and contributes largely to the economy of the country.

Informing that an exhibition of local product "Mai-own 2021" will be conducted from March 16 to 22 at Hapta Kangjeibung, he stressed on the needs for reviving the old food items and culture of the State.

The Chief Minister, on the other hand, expressed disappointment on the shrinkage of Sangai population in Keibul Lamjao National Park due to encroachment and informed that a committee had been constituted to look into the matter.

To protect the wildlife and the environment, he informed that the State Government had come up with a plan to reward the villages which had put firm commitment to conserve wildlife and environment.

N Biren also announced that villages of Tamenglong which had put efforts to protect Amur Falcons would be rewarded.

Delivering his presidential speech, Th Biswajit said that the programme was organised as a part of celebration of 4 years completion of the State Government.

The artisans and farmers are being assisted for improving their working environment, product standardization and capacity building.

This would facilitate them in bringing their products to the international platforms, he added.

He further said that the State Government under the leadership of N Biren Singh had been taking up welfare measures and providing benefits to the targeted population maintaining complete transparency.

Biswajit appealed to the farmers and artisans to coordinate with authorities concerned to avail benefits under certain schemes.

Agriculture Minister Oinam Lukhoi stated that the agriculture machineries are provided to beneficiaries every year under the SMAM Scheme.

The machineries are provided to the beneficiaries with 30 to 40 percent subsidy for individuals and 40 percent to farmers groups, he added.

He appealed to the beneficiaries to optimally utilize the machineries with proper maintenance and contribute to the State's economy.

Under the North Eastern Region Textiles Promotion Scheme, 3,000 handicraft artisans will be provided financial assistance to buy tool kits of which 1500 will be benefited in the 1st phase and the remaining in the 2nd phase, Lukhoi continued.