AGRICULTURE FAIR IN COOCHBEHAR

CII sponsored Krishi Unnayan Mela in Cooch Behar

 A three-day Krishi Unnayan Mela (Agriculture Development Fair) started on Wednesday evening. State agriculture minister Purnendu Basu inaugurated the fair at Uttar Banga Krishi Viswavidyalaya (UBKV) campus at Pundibari in Cooch Behar. Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) is the organiser of it while West Bengal is the partner state. Mr Sanjiv Paul, chairman of Trade Fairs Task Force, CII Eastern Region and Director of Tata Metalinks Limited delivered the welcome address.

   The agriculture minister said that such fair was initiated last year. He thanked Mr Paul for his co-operation for organising the fair. Mr Basu told Mr Paul that West Bengal wants to gain from the outcome of the work in agriculture sector where Tata group works. "We want to discuss on the issue and we are ready to extend all co-operation to you", he said.

The minister admitted that the state is still in trail behind in soil testing field. In organic farming sector too, the state is still in a backward position. He said that the state government took initiative to produce onion in winter and monsoon months but the production is going out to Bangladesh by other way. During his speech he admitted that though the state is in first position in production of rice but it is staying far behind in productivity in rice bran oil, vermin compost fertiliser, organic fertiliser etc.

    Mr Sanjiv Paul mentioned that food processing industry is sunrise industry. The farmers raised productivity considerably in the past years. He observed that food production may be doubled in next 20 years. Food production rose considerably in this state and 72 percent development achieved in agriculture sector. Mr Paul termed the fair as an ideal one for agricultural community. It may be fruitful to all concerned, he hoped.

    Director of agriculture Paritosh Bhattacharya, UBKV vice-chancellor Debashis Majumder, Chairman of forest development corporation Rabindra Nath Ghosh, district magistrate P Ulganathan, CII's North Bengal chairman Naresh Agarwal, Cooch Behar Zilla Parishad sabhadhipati Pushpita Roy Dakua were also spoke on the occasion.

    During the three-day fair exhibition, seminars and training on agriculture (Krishi PathShala) will be held.