"Farmers: the backbone of our nation, nurturing the roots of civilization with every seed they sow."
Cultivating Success: Sow, Grow, Harvest!
As commissioner of Agriculture, received Prime Minister's award for Excellence in Public Administration second time for " Crop Pest Surveillance & Advisory Projects" for pest management on major crops in Maharashtra in 2015. The project was undertaken in the backdrop of severe pest outbreak of leaf eating caterpillar pest on soybean crop during 2008-9.
In Maharashtra, (Vidarbha and Marathwada) that resulted into crop losses over an area of 9 lakh ha. (63% of sown area) causing losses to tune of Rs. 1392 crore. The state government had given the compensation worth Rs 450 cr to the farmers.
The team of experts deputed by Government of India submitted their observations that existing system of pest monitoring has failed and inadequate, poor knowledge of pest identification, delayed understanding of gravity of the problem, lacking collective approach by agencies, absence of advisory for proper use of pesticide .The team emphasized the necessity of continuous scientific pest monitoring to develop early pest warning system, creating awareness among farmers and importance of integrated pest management.
The state Government formulated a steering committee under the Chairmanship of Agriculture Commissioner to formulate a long term strategy to deal with such situation in consultation with NCIPM, New Delhi, Crop Research Institutes of National Level, State Agriculture Universities and Department of Agriculture.
First time in the country, Scientific Pest Management monitoring system on real time basis was developed using software for online e-pest surveillance of soybean, tur, cotton and gram crops. The area coverage under project is 112 lakh hectares. The project was implemented very effectively.
In year 2010-11, the systematic campaign was rigorously held for production of pulses and improved technology was used.
I personally supervised and monitored the programme and we were successful in achieving the ever highest production of pulses in western area of India. the Government of India awarded us Krishi karman award and the prize of Rs. one crore.
The campaign was held for creating awareness among farmers & transfer of advanced technologies with regard to different crops. Rath was created and it was taken from one village to another village & demonstrations were organized.
We covered almost all the villages in Maharashtra and an initiative was very successful and appreciated.
As Agriculture commissioner, the campaign was held to promote group farming for organic produce.The programme was properly chalked out & we were successful in creating the groups of farmers. The work was appreciated by the supreme master Ching Hai International Association and given Shining World Leadership Award with prize of 10000$
Konkan division consists of seven districts out of which two are totally urban. The area under horticulture plantation is 4.80 lakh hectare as against 8.18 lakh hector cultivable area in Konkan Division. Out of this, 3.48 lakh ha has been planted under the EGS scheme which was launched by Hon. Sharadchandraji Pawarsaheb when he was Chief Minister.
In year 2015-16, horticulture plantation under NREGA was 573 hactares only. I took an initiative for plantation of horticulture in cluster manner & arrange a workshop at Agriculture University, Dapoli along with Vice chancellor involving the revenue, zilla parishad and agriculture department. Few modifications were made in the implementation guidelines.
The campaign was launched for horticulture plantation under NREGA and we could succeed to the extent of 6103 ha. with investment of Rs. 96 crores. In year 2017-18, target of 25000 hectars was fixed. This shows that large scale horticulture plantation can be taken under NREGA.
