The Centre has earmarked an amount of Rs 102.89 crore for Asom under the Rastriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) for the year 2008-09, with the major allocation made for buying tractors and irrigation.

The Asom Government claims from time to time that from 2001 onwards the fiscal reforms carried out in the State benefited the people to a large extent leading to rise in per capita income of the peopl

While replying to a question in the Budget session of Assam Assembly on March 24, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi acknowledged that the per capita burden of the State's public debt now comes to Rs 6,806

Its enormous water resources notwithstanding, Assam continues to be a deficit State in fish production. This is a drawback that can be traced to inadequate planning and implementation.

There is an indifferent attitude, almost of a colonial type, in the mainland of India towards NE.

From the cosy confines of Dispur, it is not possible to feel the worries of farmers or even appreicate their yield.

The State has a demand of about 545 metric tonnes of fish, on an average, per day. The State produces around 500 mt of fish and it imports around 45 mt of fish every day, on an average.

Rice production in the State is dwindling. Though there was a fluctuating trend between 2003-04 and 2005-06 in its production, the output of the item showed a sharp decline during 2006-07.

SIVASAGAR

Declining agricultural productivity and the increasing demand for foodgrains have emerged as a big challenge before the country.