FOCUS GIVEN BY SKM GOVT TOWARDS FARMERS NOW SHOWING RESULTS, NO SHORTAGE OF VEGETABLES IN SIKKIM DURING LOCKDOWN: MINISTER SHARMA
BIJOY GURUNG
GANGTOK: The priority given by the SKM government towards agriculture and horticulture immediately after taking charge of Sikkim is now showing rich dividends within nine months as there is no shortage of locally grown vegetables in the markets despite the lengthy national lockdown, said Agriculture & Horticulture minister L.N. Sharma on Monday.
Speaking with SIKKIM EXPRESS, the Agriculture & Horticulture minister said his first agenda – after being given the responsibilities of Agriculture and Horticulture departments nine months ago – was to hold a meeting with all officials of the two departments. Instructions were given to the officials to strengthen the village level workers and make them active in the fields, and timely delivery of seeds and agricultural inputs to the farmers.
“I told our officials that our departments play a key role in sustaining life as people, rich or poor, cannot survive without food grains, vegetables, meat and dairy products. We must spare no efforts to revitalise farming in Sikkim,” said Sharma.
“Overnight results cannot be expected but today the people of Sikkim can see the results of our work started nine months ago. So many days of lockdown have passed but there is no shortage of vegetables in the markets of Sikkim. There is also no hike in the price of vegetables,” said the minister.
SIMFED, a State government agency, has been collecting vegetables from the Farmers Producers Organisations and supplying them to the towns of Sikkim including Gangtok. On an average, it supplies around 3 to 3.5 metric tons of vegetables to the State capital daily. The farmers of West Sikkim have produced around 150 metric tons of vegetables during the lockdown period.
Sharma informed that the State government has deputed SIMFED to collect and supply vegetables at each district. We are also monitoring the prices of vegetables, he said.
“In these nine months, our farmers have demonstrated that Sikkim is able to produce sufficient vegetables. On behalf of the government, I thank our farmers for their efforts,” said Sharma. He urged people to take up farming at their levels also – be at terrace gardening or making use of their barren land.
Recently, the Horticulture department has also stepped forward to help the local flower growers who have been hit hard by the lockdown. The department is collecting, packaging and selling the cut-flowers through its contacts and agencies.
To a question, the Agriculture & Horticulture minister said: “The Chief Minister and the State government are concerned about the flower growers of Sikkim. We are making efforts to give some compensation to them as it is through sale of flowers that they sustain their families. They have faced huge losses, the government is aware of it and in coming days, we will try to give them some compensation.”
Sharma pointed out to the exemplary steps taken by the Horticulture department to assist the flower growers. “Our officials including the department secretary are all engaged to sell the flowers of our flower growers. It is an exemplary step and we will support our farmers and flower growers,” he said.
Sharma said the SKM government is focusing on creating a proper market chain for those dependent on agriculture, horticulture, animal husbandry and dairy farming.
“In the past government, there was no such proper marketing system for the farmers who had to face losses. Our SKM government has been supporting the farmers by creating a proper market so that their produce gets good returns. We are helping the farmers as per the promises made in our election manifesto,” said Sharma.
Sharma added that the SKM government under the leadership of Chief Minister P.S. Golay took bold and timely decisions in advance to protect Sikkim from Covid-19. “Before the nation decided on lockdown, our State had already taken preventive measures like banning entry of both domestic and foreign tourists. The administration and our frontline workers are sparing no efforts to protect Sikkim and we have received support from all the people of Sikkim. This is a huge achievement and in coming days, we expect similar support from the people of Sikkim to protect the State from Covid-19,” he said.
Sharma also countered the statements made by SDF chief spokesperson M.K. Subba regarding medical preparedness at Rangpo and Melli checkposts to screen stranded people returning to Sikkim after lockdown ends.
The minister said the seriousness shown by the State administration and Health workers since early days of Covid-19 scare is evident in the fact that Sikkim has zero coronavirus positive case. “People are still coming to Sikkim through checkposts bringing in essential commodities but the administration is strictly enforcing the safety protocols at the checkposts. Strong checking and screening is done at the checkposts and if there was any laxity from our side then the virus would have come by now. The Chief Minister himself is monitoring the checkposts and records show that our arrangements have worked,” he said.
“The State government under the Chief Minister is making a plan on how to bring our stranded people back home (after lockdown). Whatever plan would be made, the foremost concern would be the safety of our people,” said Sharma.
Regarding the economic relief package issue raised by the SDF spokesperson, the minister said the SKM government believes in action than words. “The people of Sikkim are fully aware how our government has been working. The answer will come from the government through our work,” he said.sikkimexpress/from,india
