Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Tuesday urged the educated youth of the state to take up farming as a means of self-employment by adopting modern technology.

Sonowal said while speaking as the chief guest at Krishak Samaroh, a programme organised by the state agriculture, horticulture and food processing department, here. He said the government was providing subsidy up to Rs 25,000 in agricultural loan amount of Rs 1 lakh and farmers must take advantage of such schemes.

“Our government realises the dignity of a farmer’s hard work and toil while growing food for society. For that reason, the state government has initiated schemes Chief Minister’s Samagra Gramya Unnyan Yojna (CMSGUY), Mukhyamantrir Krishi Sa-Sajuli Achoni, Ghare Ghare Pukhuri Ghare Ghare Mach so that the farmers can benefit. We are embarking on the journey to fulfil Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of doubling farmers’ income by 2022.”

Highlighting the Centre’s schemes such as Kisan Man Dhan Yojna, Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojnaand others as the indicator of the Prime Minister’s commitment towards the farmers, Sonowal said CMSGUY with a budget outlay of Rs 30,000 crore is the state government’s move to transform the rural economy.

“Around five lakh farmers have been provided one-time grant of Rs 5,000 for buying farming equipment under Mukhyamantrir Krishi Sa-Sajuli Achoni during the previous year and six lakh more farmers would be covered under the scheme in the current year. The Centre has also released an amount of Rs 1,200 crore for implementing various schemes for farmers’ welfare,” Sonowal said. “The farmers could have learnt the modern techniques used by Vietnamese farmers to increase production,” he added.

He said 20 lakh farmers have been provided soil health cards in the state. Sonowal called on the farmers to strive for increasing production through dedicated and systemic work to capture markets in this contemporary, competitive age.

He urged them to engage in organic cultivation for taking advantage of the fertile land of the state. Farmers from Assam have already exported their produce to Abu Dhabi, London, Hong Kong and Singapore.