Haryana Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister, O.P. Dhankar announced that the 4th Agri Leadership Summit-2019 would be organised from February 15-17 at India International Horticulture Market (IIHM), Ganaur in district Sonipat.

Facts :

• Union Agriculture Minister, Radha Mohan Singh and  Union Minister of Steel, Birender Singh would inaugurate the summit and every day over 60,000 farmers as well as dignitaries from across the country and abroad, would participate.
• On the second day of the Summit, the Union Minister of State for Agriculture, Parshottam Rupala would be the Chief Guest. On the concluding ceremony, the President, Ramnath Kovind would be the Chief Guest and Haryana Chief Minister, Manohar Lal would preside over the programme.
• During the three-day summit, different themes have been formed based on innovative farming for making farming a profitable venture.
• The theme of first day is Innovation and entrepreneurship, in which foodgrains producing farmers have been invited while, the second day theme is Kheti Plus, Dhan Plus in which farmers into the business of Poultry, Animal Husbandry, and Fisheries have been invited and the theme of the third day is Direct Marketing and Agri Service in which farmers have been invited under horticultural format for making farming a profitable business.
• This Summit has become very popular and have integrated all the departments like Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Fisheries, agriculture marketing board and other organizations which have direct link to farmers, with the Summit. The farmers and different departments would exhibit all what they have achieved. Farmers would also be allowed to sell their products or produce.
• The Summit will bring stakeholders from all disciplines of Agriculture and Allied sectors under one roof. It will be an excellent platform for companies to market and exhibit their products/services. An investor-friendly government coupled with transparency, good infrastructure and close proximity to National Capital make Haryana an ideal investment destination for Agro based industries.
• The 3-day Summit aims at guiding the farmer and the agri-industry of Haryana towards maximum value creation and to create a direct linkage between farmers and the market.
• This year, the state government would honour the farmers with new award Haryana Kisan Ratna Samman to encourage them.
• This award would carry a cash prize of Rs 5 lakh and a citation and would be given to a farmer for his outstanding work in the field of agriculture development.
• This award can also be given to farmers, institutions, universities, departments and scientists working for the development of agriculture and farmers.
• He said that the farmers visiting the Summit would also be awarded. Every day farmers would be given a coupon and the draw would be held. The prizes of draw included a big tractor, a small tractor, bullet motorcycle and a scooty.

Background :

• In 2015, the State Government had organised the first Agri Leadership Summit in Gurugram for the development of agriculture and farmers.After which, it was decided to organise this Summit in every two years and the 2nd Agri Leadership Summit was organised at Surajkund Faridabad in 2017.
• Later, the state government decided to organise this Summit every year in the interest of farmers and in 2018, the third Agri Leadership Summit was held in Rohtak, where 1.60 lakh farmers participated from 16 lakh farmers’ families in the state. After the success of the 3rd Summit, it has been decided to organise the 4th Agri Leadership Summit at Ganaur, Sonipat