Barmer farmers want bajra research centre set up soon

Jaisalmer: Farmers in the bajra-growing district of Barmer are upset about lack of progress in work to set up a proposed research centre for the millet on 100 acres in Gudamalani. The state government is yet to allot land for the bajra research centre, which was announced by the Centre two years ago and would be the country’s second bajra research centre. With the Assembly elections due by the yearend, farmers in Barmer resent the allegations and counter allegations being traded between the Centre and the state government over this project. Union agriculture and farmer welfare minister Kailash Choudhary alleged that the state government is deliberately keeping every project of the Centre pending. “The state government is not giving land for the bajra research centre despite several letters having been sent. The research centre would help the farmers of Barmer get better remuneration and employment, and products made of local bajra will be exported. It will give Barmer a separate identity. The government should immediately allot land for this central project,” said Choudhary. A committee formed by ICAR in June 2021 had submitted its report on the proposed bajra research centre. TNN