Chaibasa: Union Minister of Tribal Affairs, Agriculture, and Farmers Welfare, Arjun Munda inaugurated the three-day National Dairy Mela and Agricultural Exhibition in Chaibasa, West Singhbhum district, Jharkhand. The Dairy Mela serves as a crucial platform to introduce farmers to the latest technologies in dairy science, emphasizing the adoption of scientific methods for enhanced milk production.
Addressing the gathering, Arjun Munda highlighted the significance of the event, organized on the land of Kolhan, to promote agriculture in the region. While acknowledging the progress in agriculture at the national level, he expressed a commitment to advancing agricultural practices in the backward areas, emphasizing the need to adopt modern techniques. The Minister praised the efforts of farmers and cattle rearers, acknowledging their significant contribution to the country’s economy.
Munda informed the audience that this is the first such event in Jharkhand, organized by the National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal, Haryana. He mentioned plans to open one of its centers in the region to support milk production. Expressing gratitude to farmers, Munda urged them to leverage government schemes such as PM Fasal Bima and PM Kisan Samridhi.
During his visit, the Union Minister interacted with Farmers Producer Organisations (FPOs) and local farmers at the exhibition stalls. He recognized the self-reliance achieved in food production due to the hard work of farmers and the contributions of agricultural scientists, including the deployment of agricultural drones for crop spraying and monitoring.
Dr. Dhir Singh, Director of the National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal, emphasized the fair’s role in expanding innovative agricultural technology for livestock production management and dairy processing. The event, aligned with the vision of a ‘Viksit Bharat’ by 2047, is part of the ‘Amrit Kaal’ Utsav.
The fair witnessed the participation of over 6,000 cattle rearers, farmers, input dealers, entrepreneurs, students, and government officials. More than 50 exhibition stalls showcased technologies from various research institutes and district-level departments. Farmer-scientist dialogues, farmer seminars, a beauty contest for advanced breed animals, and animal health medical camps were organized to promote awareness and knowledge in agriculture and animal husbandry. Farmers excelling in various fields were recognized and rewarded to boost morale and encourage best practices. Material technology under the Scheduled Tribe Sub-Plan was made available to promote agricultural knowledge and overall development in tribal areas.