Umiam (Meghalaya) [India], January 9: Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan attended the Golden Jubilee Celebrations of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) for the North Eastern Hill Region in Umiam, Ri-Bhoi district, Meghalaya, on Thursday.
During his address, Chouhan emphasized the Modi government’s dedicated focus on the North East, highlighting provisions for research in fruits, vegetables, and crops, as well as measures for fair prices for farmers, enhancing production, and reducing costs.
“The Government of India has given special attention to the North East. Adequate provisions have been made in the past and will continue in the future to support research and ensure fair prices for farmers, as well as to increase production and lower costs,” said Chouhan, expressing gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Chief Minister for their support.
The Union Minister also spoke about the potential of bamboo to transform the lives of North East farmers. “Bamboo can significantly improve the fortunes of our farmers. It has vast potential; it’s used in many products such as food, furniture, and housing. We will explore how to leverage it more effectively,” he added.
Praising the respect for women in the North East, Chouhan said, “In this region, mothers, sisters, and daughters are highly respected, and the mother often runs the family. Unfortunately, this respect is not always found elsewhere in the country, where there are often fewer girls born than boys. This gender discrimination is a human issue, not a divine one. In Madhya Pradesh, we created the Ladli Laxmi Yojana to ensure that when a daughter is born, she has a secure future.”
Chouhan’s remarks underscored the government’s ongoing commitment to the development of the region and the empowerment of its communities.