Dhankar opts for Australia, Fiji and New Zealand to ‘learn’ new agricultural techniques

CHANDIGARH: The think-tank of Haryana’s agriculture and farmers’ welfare department has set its eyes on Australia, Fiji and New Zealand to beat the blistering mid-June heat and “study” the latest methods in the field of agriculture and horticulture.

Om Prakash Dhankar, minister for agriculture and animal husbandry, who had famously said “foreign bulls are characterless” will lead the 12-member delegation comprising three legislators and as many Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officers. The two-week tour will start on June 6. According to a three-page order issued by Abhilaksh Likhi, principal secretary (agriculture and farmers welfare), three MLAs — Subhash Chander, BSP’s Tek Chand Sharma who represents Prithla segment and BJP’s Mool Chand Sharma from Ballabhgarh — will accompany the minister.

Among the bureaucrats accompanying Dhankar during this 14-day summer sojourn are Dr J Ganesan, IAS, chief administrator, Haryana state agricultural marketing board; Ashok Kumar Meena, IAS, director, development and panchayats; and DK Behra, IAS, director general, agriculture department.

The delegation will also have chairperson of Haryana state agricultural marketing board Krishna Gahlawat, chairman of live stock development board Rishi Parkash Sharma, director general horticulture department Dr Arjun Singh Saini, general animal husbandry and dairy development director Dr GS Jakhar and Haryana state agricultural marketing board CMEO Raj Kumar Beniwal .

Government sources say Dhankar, who also holds portfolios of irrigation development, panchayat, dairy and fishing, has opted for Australia, Fiji and New Zealand to study agriculture and horticulture techniques.

The finance department, sources say, has given the permission for the tour, which is likely to cost the government ₹2 crore. Officers in the delegation have been directed to submit the tour report to the chief minister and the finance department. The state government has intimated the Indian embassies in the three countries about the impending visit. Last year in August, Dhankar had led a delegation of legislators and bureaucrats to learn agricultural techniques in the United States.

OP DHANKAR, WHO HAD FAMOUSLY SAID ‘FOREIGN BULLS ARE CHARACTERLESS’, WILL LEAD THE DELEGATION