RAIPUR,CG: The Chhattisgarh NITI Ayog laid emphasis to make Chhattisgarh the hub of super foods in India. State should be the power house of processed superfoods and build strong brands with forestry products.

The working committee constituted on the subject of “Agriculture and Forestry” to prepare the document “Amritkaal: Chhattisgarh Vision @ 2047” was held on Thursday in the meeting room of State NITI Aayog, Atal Nagar Nava Raipur.

The goals, challenges and potential related to agriculture and forestry were discussed in detail and suggestions were given by the members of the working committee.

It was said that implementation of food processing technologies, investment in skill upgradation and infrastructure, increasing crop yields, value addition, focusing on horticulture for production of products, increasing agricultural service centers, providing adequate credit facilities to farmers, soil testing and developing Chhattisgarh as a center of herbs and forest produce, creating forest produce trading centres, storage processing.

And other important topics including creating infrastructure for transportation, initiatives being taken by the state government to empower farmers, strengthening of minor forest produce, adequate availability of water and irrigation were discussed.

State NITI Aayog Vice Chairman Ajay Singh, Member Secretary Anoop Srivastava and Member K. Subramaniam gave suggestions for determining short, medium and long term vision and strategies made by the departments.

Ajay Singh highlighted the issues like better utilization of agricultural land and ability to increase multiple cropping practices, increase in average monthly income per agricultural family, better credit facilities for farmers, need for advanced technology and precision farming to increase productivity and efficiency. Suggestions were given on major investment in agricultural research and development, emphasis on skill development and training programs, organic farming, crop rotation, strengthening food distribution system and cold storage.

Advisor to the Chief Minister, Dr. Dhirendra Tiwari said that farmers can be empowered through advanced training and digital tools. He said that all necessary measures including increasing crop production, increasing employment opportunities in the agriculture sector, promoting agroforestry, making better marketing arrangements for farmers and other necessary measures should be included in the document.