The Centre has assured the Assam government of full support for strengthening agriculture and rural development in the state, with Union Agriculture and Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan stating that there will be no shortage of funds and resources for key programmes and initiatives.The assurance was given during a meeting between Chouhan and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma in New Delhi on June 2. The meeting reviewed the progress of various central schemes being implemented in Assam and discussed measures to further improve agricultural productivity, rural infrastructure and livelihood opportunities. According to an official statement, the discussions focused on assessing the implementation of programmes under the Agriculture and Rural Development departments and identifying areas where cooperation between the Centre and the state could be strengthened. During the meeting, Chouhan reiterated the Centre’s commitment to Assam’s development and assured support for the effective implementation of flagship schemes, including the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF), Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Gramin (PMAY-G), Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) and other centrally sponsored programmes. “There will be no shortage of funds and resources for agriculture and rural development in Assam,” the Union minister said.
Rural Development Secretary Rohit Kansal informed the chief minister that technical issues affecting the implementation of PMAY-G and MGNREGA had been resolved. He also said that MGNREGA funds had been released in line with the state government’s requirements. Kansal further informed the meeting that the proposed Vikas Bharat-Rozgar Evam Aajeevika Mission (Rural) is expected to replace MGNREGA across the country from July 1 as part of efforts to strengthen rural employment and livelihood generation. A major highlight of the meeting was the presentation of a draft Agriculture Action Plan prepared specifically for Assam. Chouhan handed over the draft plan to the chief minister, stating that it had been designed keeping in mind the state’s climatic conditions, soil characteristics and agricultural potential. The plan is expected to serve as a roadmap for increasing productivity, encouraging crop diversification and improving farm incomes. The meeting also reviewed Assam’s progress under the Lakhpati Didi initiative. Officials from the Rural Development Ministry noted that the state has created more than nine lakh Lakhpati Didis, surpassing the target assigned under the programme. The achievement was highlighted as a significant step towards promoting women’s economic empowerment and strengthening self-help groups. To further support women-led enterprises, the Centre and the Assam government agreed to work with incubators at Assam Agricultural University to provide training, technical support and market linkages. Officials also reviewed projects being implemented under the Agricultural Mechanisation Programme and the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY). These initiatives aim to modernise farming practices and improve productivity across the state.
Agriculture Secretary Atish Chandra informed the chief minister that efforts are underway to distribute power weeders to women farmers. The initiative is expected to reduce physical labour and improve efficiency in agricultural operations. The meeting also discussed the expansion of the National Mission on Edible Oils-Oil Palm (NMEO-OP) in Assam. The programme is aimed at increasing domestic edible oil production while providing farmers with additional income opportunities. In another boost for the agriculture sector, the Centre approved 1,500 new bamboo polyhouses for Assam during the current year. The polyhouses are expected to support protected cultivation, improve crop yields and enable year-round farming. Strengthening agricultural infrastructure also figured prominently in the discussions. The Centre has approved the construction of buildings for a Pesticide Testing Laboratory and an Edible Oil Testing Laboratory under the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana. These facilities are expected to improve quality testing, food safety standards and agricultural research capabilities. The Centre also informed the state government that efforts are being made to establish partnerships with the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) and the National Organic Cooperative Limited. The collaborations are aimed at creating better export opportunities and expanding global markets for Assam’s organic produce. Meanwhile, Narendra Bhushan, Secretary of the Department of Land Resources, briefed the chief minister on the progress of land record digitisation in Assam. Officials said the initiative would help improve transparency, simplify land-related services and strengthen land governance.
