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Dutch funds for WB agriculture project
Monday, 14 October 2002, 19:30 IST
KOLKATA: A team of officials from West Bengal is traveling to the Netherlands to negotiate a 
1.25 billion (125 crore) financial assistance for an ambitious agriculture project in the state's hilly north.
A five-member delegation led by agriculture secretary N.K.S. Jhala will travel to the Hague on October 20 to convince Dutch authorities to continue their association with an 18-year-old agriculture project in the northern districts of Cooch Behar, Jalpaiguri and Darjeeling.
In 1984, the Netherlands began part-sponsoring a project to promote organized farming and rural development in the districts under a Dutch assistance project for developing nations.
"We now hope to get 1.25 billion from them to expand the scope of the project that presently covers 480,000 hectares of land in the three districts," state agriculture director Nityananda Trivedi said.
The delegation will hold talks for 10 days with Dutch agriculture department representatives and lobby for the financial assistance that could be released over five years.
"We hope to receive 250 (25 crore) million every year for five years," Trivedi said.
West Bengal officials, who have prepared a blueprint of the proposed project, will also ask Dutch authorities to lobby with countries like Britain and Israel for financial help.
"The Dutch authorities are happy with our work. We are very hopeful of getting further financial assistance from them," Trivedi said.
West Bengal plans to use 1.25 billion on soil treatment, small irrigation projects, water resource development and projects to empower women.
The Marxist-led state is currently in the process of framing a new farm policy that promises widespread reforms.
However, certain "pro-capitalist" suggestions made on agriculture and labor policies by international consulting firm McKinsey, hired to advice the government on industrialization, have been diluted to accommodate views of all political partners in the ruling coalition.
Source: IANS
1.25 billion (125 crore) financial assistance for an ambitious agriculture project in the state's hilly north.
A five-member delegation led by agriculture secretary N.K.S. Jhala will travel to the Hague on October 20 to convince Dutch authorities to continue their association with an 18-year-old agriculture project in the northern districts of Cooch Behar, Jalpaiguri and Darjeeling.
In 1984, the Netherlands began part-sponsoring a project to promote organized farming and rural development in the districts under a Dutch assistance project for developing nations.
"We now hope to get 1.25 billion from them to expand the scope of the project that presently covers 480,000 hectares of land in the three districts," state agriculture director Nityananda Trivedi said.
The delegation will hold talks for 10 days with Dutch agriculture department representatives and lobby for the financial assistance that could be released over five years.
"We hope to receive 250 (25 crore) million every year for five years," Trivedi said.
West Bengal officials, who have prepared a blueprint of the proposed project, will also ask Dutch authorities to lobby with countries like Britain and Israel for financial help.
"The Dutch authorities are happy with our work. We are very hopeful of getting further financial assistance from them," Trivedi said.
West Bengal plans to use 1.25 billion on soil treatment, small irrigation projects, water resource development and projects to empower women.
The Marxist-led state is currently in the process of framing a new farm policy that promises widespread reforms.
However, certain "pro-capitalist" suggestions made on agriculture and labor policies by international consulting firm McKinsey, hired to advice the government on industrialization, have been diluted to accommodate views of all political partners in the ruling coalition.
Source: IANS