GUWAHATI:
Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu on August 16 virtually flagged off the first consignment of vegetables from Self Help Groups (SHGs) and women groups for Army personnel stationed in the state from three locations – Bolung in Lower Dibang Valley, Chug village in West Kameng and Gunanagar in Namsai district.
Touted as Mission Krishi Veer, it was announced in this year’s budget announcement to boost the state’s rural economy.
“The Indian Army and paramilitary forces have a huge presence in the state and demand a huge quantity of fruits and vegetables for daily consumption. Till now they have been procuring their demands from other states as there is no proper system in our state for such purchases in bulk. I have always believed that if the forces could be made customers of our local produce, it would hugely benefit our farmers,” Khandu said.
Khandu had been advocating a system to supply vegetables and fruits to the huge contingents of Army and paramilitary personnel stationed in Arunachal Pradesh directly from local farmers. Mission Krishi Veer is just that system now in place.
To begin with, an MoU has been signed between Arunachal Pradesh Marketing Board (APMB), Arunachal State Rural Livelihood Mission (ArSRLM) and Tawang and Jang Large Area Multipurpose Society (LAMPS). As per the agreement, APMB will facilitate between SHGs registered under ArSRLM and LAMPS for the implementation of the ambitious scheme and supply the local surplus production to the Indian Army in the state.
Congratulating the stakeholders, Khandu expressed optimism that Mission Krishi Veer will enhance the income of local farmers and encourage them to professionally take up farming.
Khandu also observed that as with every new initiative, this too will face teething problems and take time to become a well-oiled system but expressed hope that with officials of departments like Agriculture, Horticulture, ArSRLM and APMB working sincerely in tandem on the field this would become a great success story in the future.
“Let’s begin with a small step. Let’s choose QA/QC products for the start as the Indian Army is quite strict with quality. Slowly as the system falls in place, we can go for the supply of all other products including meat, fish, eggs, milk, etc.,” he advised.
Speaking on the occasion, agriculture minister Tage Taki said that the new initiative would prove a boon to local farmers by bringing the market to their doorstep, besides strengthening the brotherhood among the soldiers and civilians.
“It would be our responsibility to keep the supply regular without fail as the demand would be huge. And also the ‘customer’ will be very strict,” he added and wished the mission a grand success.
Approximately 50,000 soldiers are stationed in the Kameng sector alone and another 50,000 in the rest of Arunachal Pradesh.
The state government has placed a revolving fund of Rs 4 Crore to mobilize the Mission Krishi Veer.