India looking at Chhattisgarh for Rice supply: Pawar

    Raipur, October 07, 2012: Chhattisgarh has achieved tremendous success in rice productivity in the last couple of years, Union Agriculture and Food Processing Minister Sharad Pawar today said.

     Previously India was looking at Punjab, Haryana, Andhra Pradesh and Western Uttar Pradesh for rice supply but in the last couple of years Chhattisgarh has succeeded in outsmarting them, Pawar told a function at the Indira Gandhi Agriculture University here.

     Chhattisgarh has achieved tremendous success in paddy production in the last couple of years, he said.

     The farmers here are labourious and have the potential to fulfil the aspiration of the country, the Union Agriculture Minister said.

     Underlining the labour and success story of Indian farmers, he said previously India was importing foodgrains, but today the situation was just reverse and vegetables, fruits and foodgrains were being exported from here.

     The first ever National Institute of Biotic Stress Management was being established at Raipur with an investment of Rs 121 crore, he said after laying the foundation stone for the organisation at Baronda and expressed hope the Institute would not only promote academic but research activities.

     On the later stage this organisation would be accorded Deemed University status, the Union Minister said.

     State Chief Minister Dr Raman Singh presiding over the function at Baronda said the Institute would help the farmers immensely.

     “This is a historical achievement,” Singh said.