Jaipur, Nov 9 (IANS) Rajasthan plans to open over 2,600 hiring centres at the panchayat samiti level in the next three years to enable the state's farmers to rent farming equipment, Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje said on Wednesday.
She was speaking at the inaugural session of the three-day Global Rajasthan Agritech Meet (GRAM) 2016, which kicked off here on Wednesday. It has been jointly organised by the state government and the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry.
Raje promised to transform the state's agricultural landscape by actively promoting global best practices and invited the corporates to join hands with farmers to modernise agriculture in the state.
Hundreds of state farmers apart from corporates, experts and stakeholders attended the event.
The Chief Minister said with surplus production of food grain, milk and pulses, the desert state is geared up to adopt multiple innovations such as digital soil mapping, use of drones for effective input management, employing innovative protected cultivation methods, zero budget natural farming or technology enabled traceability systems.
"The end objective of these interventions in farming will be increasing efficiency, reducing costs and ensuring sustainability," she said.
The Chief Minister said within a year of holding the 'Resurgent Rajasthan Summit 2015', projects valued at almost Rs 5,000 crore have been implemented in the state.
"Besides, projects worth Rs 54,000 crore and Rs 49,000 crore are under construction and under various stages of clearance respectively."
Yoga guru Baba Ramdev announced setting up of a mega food park in the state. He sought cooperation from the state government in this direction.
"Patanjali company is entering into milk industry and will be keen to make Rajasthan a part of its journey."
Ramdev said the firm is also keen to work with the state government vis-a-vis agricultural produce like aloe vera, isabgol, bajra and amla.
Chief Guest and Rajasthan Governor Kalyan Singh said the farmers, industry leaders, scientists and the government will have to join hands to pave the way for doubling the farmers' income by 2022.
Union Minister of State Parshottam Rupala praised Rajasthan for "successfully implementing all central schemes and taking decisions for the welfare of the farmers".
Rajasthan's Agriculture Minister Prabhu Lal Saini welcomed the guests while Israel's Ambassador to India Daniel Carmon also spoke on the occasion.
