IEP Ludhiana/Chandigarh, February 12
In order to benefit the farmers by supplementing their income through Agro forestry, the Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann today launched India’s first e-timber portal.
Divulging more details, the Chief Minister said that this first of its kind portal in the country has been developed by the Forest department and will ensure complete transparency in selling and buying of timber thereby benefitting the farmers. He said that earlier in the state the buying and selling of timber is done largely through unorganised markets due to which farmers are not able to get its remunerative prices. Bhagwant Mann said that due to this farmers are drifting away from Agro forestry.
However, the Chief Minister said that as the Agro-forestry can act as a pivot to transform the destiny of farmers, so the state government is leaving no stone unturned for promoting it. Listing the salient features of the portal, he said that this online portal will immensely help the farmers as they can sell the timber at any place of the choice via online. Bhagwant Mann further said that the portal will ensure remunerative price of the produce of the farmers thereby encouraging them towards Agro-forestry.
The Chief Minister further said that the online sale and purchase of the timber will also save the time, money and energy of the farmers thereby immensely benefiting them. Bhagwant Mann said that this portal will transform the destiny of the farmers by bailing them from the current agrarian crisis. He further said that this portal will also help in direct communication and interaction between industry and farmers thereby mutually benefiting both the sectors in a big way.
The Chief Minister said that this portal is a step forward towards ensuring complete transparency in the selling and purchase of the timber to ensure well being of the farmers. Bhagwant Mann further said that it is a revolutionary step which will mitigate the woes of farming community and help them to supplement their income. He envisioned that this portal will open new doors of progress and prosperity for the farming community in the state.
