Washington:
Introduction of modern day best practices of agriculture, adapted to Indian needs, has potential to boost Chhattisgarh's economy in a big way, a senior minister from the state has said.
The BJP government is working towards providing latest agricultural equipment's, and increase cold storage facilities in the rural areas so as to jump agricultural productivity in the state, visiting Chhattisgarh Minister for Water Resources and Agriculture Brijmohan Agrawal told PTI here.
In the US to attend the Chalo Gujarat 2015 conclave in New Jersey, Mr Agrawal visited Washington DC and Tampa in Florida meeting the overseas Indian-American community from Chhattisgarh and seeking their help in attracting foreign direct investment in his State.
"A number of Indian-Americans have told me that they want to come and invest in Chhattisgarh," he said, adding that the state has huge potential in agricultural exports.
Mr Agrawal said the Chhattisgarh government is providing incentives to farmers who are moving towards growing cash crops or and engaged in floriculture.
"We are providing them special facilities through loan and subsidies. This year we are providing subsidies worth Rs 200 crores to our farmers," he said, adding that this is likely to benefit one lakh farmers.
"Unless we move towards cash crop, we can't improve the economic status of our farmers," Mr Agrawal said.
Having got an opportunity to visit a few agricultural fields and facilities in the US, Agrawal said American farmers have got state of the art technology and equipment for their farming.
"India has a long way to go to achieve this level as is available to farmers in the US," he acknowledged, but stressed that his government is taking necessary steps in that regard.
"A visit to these facilities gives us an idea as to how we can help our farmers. Our farmers also needs to be well equipped," the minister said, adding that efforts are being made to provide subsidies to farmers in the state to buy latest technology and equipment.