Krishi Vasant will lead to second green revolution: Prithviraj Chavan

Stating that it marked the "beginning of a second Green Revolution," Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan has expressed hope that the farming community in Maharashtra will be benefited by the national agriculture exhibition which was held here.

"The farmers from Maharashtra would be greatly benefited by the innovative ideas, new crops, new patterns and mixture of farming and technology (showcased) at the exhibition. It is the beginning of a second Green Revolution," Chavan said during the valedictory function of the 'Krishi Vasant' exhibition here yesterday.

A record 7 lakh people attended the five-day agri-expo, Chavan said at the sprawling complex of Central Institute of Cotton Research here. The chief minister hoped that the expo would have served as a push towards the introduction of a new scenario in the farming sector of increased crop production and novel varieties.

Complimenting the people of Maharashtra and those from across the country who participated in the event, Chavan said that the exhibition had reached out to about one crore farmers in nearly 100 districts through live web-casting. Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar, who was supposed to attend the function, could not make it due to ruckus in Parliament yesterday.

State agriculture minister Radha Krishna Vikhe Patil, district guardian minister Shivajirao Moghe, food and civil supplies minister Anil Deshukh, ministers of state, Rajendra Mulak (energy), Ranjeet Kamble (water conservation), Union agriculture ministry joint secretary Sanjeev Gupta and additional state chief secretary Sudhir Goel were present on the occasion. Chavan felicitated over 50 farmers from across India for their innovative techniques and work.