GUWAHATI, June 22 – Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi has directed all departments involved in the implementation of the Assam Agricultural Competitive Project (AACP) to expedite the process to meet the July 15 deadline set by the World Bank (WB). Gogoi issued the directive while undertaking an appraisal mission of the WB-aided project here today.
The meeting discussed threadbare the various areas under AACP, including agriculture, roads, fishery, livestock and dairy. Matters pertaining to decentralisation and market driven extension delivery system through district-level regulated bodies called Agriculture Technology Management Agency (ATMA) on pilot basis in two districts in the first year also came up for discussion.
The meeting, while discussing amendment of the Agriculture Marketing Act as per the Government of India’s the ‘State Agriculture Produce Marketing (Development and Regulation) Act’, decided that the amendment be carried out to the extent desired by the WB. The WB, it may be mentioned, wants entry of private operators into the marketing of agriculture produce, introduction of contract farming and direct purchase from farmers.
As per WB requirements, a Road Board has been formed and an account opened for road maintenance. Meanwhile, three consultancy firms have been engaged in this regard. The WB wants that there should be a Rs 100-crore fund for road management purpose by July 21. For standard bridge, design work has been almost completed.
On the livestock front, Assam Livestock Development Agency (ALDA) has been registered and a Chief Executive Officer appointed. The State Government is in touch with the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) for full capacity utilisation of WAMUL. The State Government has also decided to release Rs 4 crore for the AACP by July 15 as stipulated by the WB. The five-year project will commence from August 15 this year.