Union Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports Raksha Nikhil Khadse has stressed the need to promote organic farming in Mizoram to increase agricultural production and enable local produce to be marketed outside the state.

 

The Union Minister arrived in Mizoram yesterday and, after spending time in Aizawl, visited Saitual district, where she held discussions with senior government officials and representatives of various sports organisations.

 

Speaking at the meeting, Khadse said Mizoram has strong potential in organic farming and that if proper systems are put in place to process and package agricultural and horticultural produce, it could be exported outside the state.

 

She urged government officials, as local residents, to take greater initiative for the benefit of the people and step up efforts to ensure that the public derives greater benefit from various Central government schemes.

 

The Union Minister said she had also held discussions with Mizoram Sports Minister Lalnghinglova Hmar and stressed the need to strengthen sports infrastructure so that children’s sporting talents can be identified and nurtured while they are still in school.

 

She also called for young people to take part in anti-drug initiatives through the government’s ‘Mera Yuva Bharat’ programme to help prevent substance abuse among the youth.

 

According to the programme, Khadse will hold a video conference with government officials in Kolasib from Saitual on Wednesday. She will then visit Saitual District Hospital before leaving for Aizawl in the afternoon.