Assam exported agri-products worth Rs 357 crore during lockdown, says CM

Sarbananda Sonowal had visited the Maloibari area in Kamrup Metro district on Tuesday where he interacted with farmers and took stock of agricultural activities. Agriculture minister Atul Bora also accompanied him.

Updated on: May 19, 2020, 19:57:31 IST

Hindustan Times, Guwahati | By Utpal Parashar

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Guwahati: Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal claimed on Tuesday that the state had exported agricultural products worth Rs 357 crore, despite the ongoing lockdown restrictions, which were imposed in end-March to contain the spread of raging coronavirus (Covid-19) outbreak.

Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal emphasised that everyone should popularise local products in order to revive the country’s economy. (ANI)

Sonowal visited the Maloibari area in Kamrup Metro district on Tuesday where he interacted with farmers and took stock of agricultural activities. State agriculture minister Atul Bora also accompanied him on the field trip.

“It gives me great hope to know that nearly Rs 357 crore worth vegetables, fruits, etc. have been exported from Assam during the lockdown period. It’s only through agriculture that we have to overcome all challenges and build an ‘Atma Nirbhar Assam’ (self-sufficient Assam),” he tweeted.

No details of the areas to which the products were exported and how much each of the 33 districts in the state earned was disclosed in the press release that was put out about the CM’s visit to Maloibari.

“I believe agriculture and animal husbandry sectors have a huge role to play in Assam’s future growth. Our farmers and entrepreneurs need to focus on capturing markets not just in other states, but also in our neighbouring countries,” Sonowal said in an interaction with media persons during the visit.

The CM directed the state agriculture department to provide seeds to farmers by October every year in a bid to ramp up their production. Sonowal emphasised that everyone should popularise local products, which will revive the country’s economy, echoing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s thoughts.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Utpal Parashar
A seasoned senior journalist, I have nearly three decades of experience across print, digital, and online platforms, covering political transitions, insurgencies, environmental issues, and development stories in India and Nepal. I am skilled in breaking news, leading editorial teams and launch of newspaper editions. I am adept at leveraging digital trends and social media to expand global reach, with a strong ethical foundation and a reputation for impactful journalism. An alumnus of Asian College of Journalism, I joined Hindustan Times in New Delhi as a trainee reporter in May 1997. Over the years, I have been posted in Dehradun, Kathmandu (Nepal) and Guwahati. Currently, as Senior Assistant Editor at Hindustan Times, I lead a team reporting on India’s northeastern states. My work involves in-depth analysis, and engaging multimedia storytelling across formats, including text, photo, video, and interactive content. I am skilled in producing timely, shareable content, leveraging digital platforms and social media to engage global audiences. Throughout my career with the Hindustan Times, I have led diverse editorial teams, designed capacity-building activities, and supported reporters in developing strong story ideas, ethical reporting practices, digital skills, and fact-checking techniques. As Senior Assistant Editor for Northeast India, I have been responsible for guiding correspondents through complex political, humanitarian, and community-level stories using multimedia formats. Earlier, as Foreign Correspondent in Nepal, I produced extensive reporting during Nepal’s democratic transition and the 2015 earthquake and its aftermath.Read More

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