Ahmedabad, 7 August, 2014

Gujarat’s first woman Chief Minister Smt. Anandiben Patel today ascertained that with an aim to preserving the food-grains in insect-free condition for long period, the state government is determined to set-up state-of-art Gama Radiation Processing Facility (GRPF) throughout the state.

The Chief Minister said that this GRPF would be set up in cooperation with farmers and society. For setting up the GRPF, besides an assistance given under the joint scheme of the Central & State Governments, the state government would also help the farmers in procuring a low-interest loan from the bank.

The Chief Minister was speaking at the function held to dedicate the state’s first GRPF plant to the people of Gujarat set up at Ramnagar village near Bavla town in Ahmedabad district today. The GRPF plant has been set up for e-radiation of agro and process food products by a state owned PSU with an aide given under the central government’s national agriculture development scheme.

Smt. Patel had termed the setting up of the GRPF as a step forward in the direction of uplifting the financial conditions of the sons of soil (farmers). The plant would make the agriculture produces insect-free through e-radiation process at very nominal expenditure to the farmers. As a result of this, the agriculture produces can be preserved for a very long period and would give the fair prices to the farmers. The Chief Minister had appealed to the Agriculture Produce Marketing Committee (APMC), Gujarat, to take an initiative in setting up the GRPF plants in the state to keep the large scale crops of Potatoes, Onions, Isabgul, spices and others insect-free for the benefit of the farmers.

Smt. Patel termed this as another new step in the series of measures such as soil-health cards, Kisan i-portal, mobile Apps and others taken for the farmers by the state government, which have resulted into large scale agriculture produces leading to agri revolution in the Gujarat.

The Chief Minister urged the farmers to adopt this GRPF methods as the people world over have become conscious and aware about organic farming. And the state government is willing to offer all possible assistance to those farmers adopting the organic farming.

Smt. Patel announced that the state government will make available a place facility for the farmers adopting 100 per cent organic farming to help sell them agriculture produces.

While lauding the then chief minister Narendra Modi, Agriculture minister Babubhai Bohiria in her inaugural speech said that Mr. Modi had implemented water management in the field of agriculture to empower the farmers and also put into operation a range of schemes in the field of energy. As a result of that, the Gujaratis are availing its fruitful benefits. “The state’s agriculture has become rather scientific and advanced and this Argo Radiation Processing has added a novice dimension,” he added. According to him, such a scientific facility will conserve farming produces so that they can have international market and consequently, the export of our Kesar and Alfanso breeds will get a new kick-start.

On this occasion education minister Bhupendrasinh Chudasama gave outline of Gujarat’s development during the last decade. Appreciating the Argo Radiation plant, he also spoke of women empowerment campaigns referring to Lok Samwad Setu programmes that will reflect state’s growth.

Explaining the importance of this Argo Radiation plant, Agriculture minister of state Govindbhai Patel said that now the farming produces will be free from harmful pests.

On this occasion Mr. Babubhai Jebaliya – Chairman to Gujarat Agro Industries, Mr. Mansukhbhai Mandaviya – Former Chairman also explained about the specialties and usages of Gujarat Agro Radiation Processing Facility.

During this throwing open ceremony of Gujarat Agro Radiation Processing’s project, Gujarat Agro Industries along with other organizations donated cheques in total of Rs 8.51 Lakh to Chief Minister Smt. Anandiben Patel for Mukhyamantri Kanya Kelavani Nidhi.

Former MLA Mr. Bharatbhai Pandya, MLA Mr. Laljibhai Mer, Former MP Mr. Ratilal Verma, Mr. Kaushikbhai Patel, Principal Secretary to Agriculture Department Mr. Rajkumar, Dr. N. K. Singh, District Collector Mr. Beniwal and farmers in a huge number were present on this occasion.