India: North-Eastern states to get financial aid under National Food Security Mission

New Delhi: The north-eastern states of India are getting USD 20 million (around Rs. 100 crore) this year from the Agriculture Ministry for supporting various activities relating to rice cultivation, under the National Food Security Mission (NFSM).

All the eight north-eastern states, including Sikkim, are being covered under NFSM-rice this year. Till last year, only Assam was covered under NFSM-rice.

Under NFSM-rice, states are given assistance for a large number of activities including seed distribution, soil management, pest control, machines & tools, training and field demonstrations.

The interventions planned under NFSM are likely to improve rice yield, which is low in the northern-eastern states. It will also help the states in becoming self-sufficient in rice production.