The Centre is keen to ensure food security and improve the quality of life of the farming community in the North East. This was stated by the Union Minister of Agriculture Sharad Pawar while addressing a two-day conference on agriculture: strategies, plicies and practices for North-East, organized by his Ministry at Guwahati today.The Minister said the region has to produce more to ensure food security and his ministry has taken the initiative in consultation with the state governments keeping in view the distinct physiography, topography, climatic and soil conditions. He said the ministry would meet every six months to assess the agriculture scenario in the region, to initiate corrective steps and to step up production in a big way.Pawar underscored the need to influence upon the farming community in the hills from jhum cultivation and pursue them to adopt agriculture practices that cause no harm to the soil and the environment. He announced that special programmes would be taken up by his ministry. The Union Minister further said that his ministry would focus on agriculture allied sectors like diary, livestock, animal husbandry and fishery to tap the abundant potential in the region.He also said that his ministry would harness the high value aromatic and medicinal plants, wide variety of orchids available in the region for both domestic and international markets. He mentioned that his ministry has given much emphasis on improving marketing infrastructure in the region and has earmarked 380 crore rupees towards this end. Additional funds amounting to 300 crore rupees have also been allotted for the creation of rural godowns in every State of the region.Speaking on the occasion, State Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said that Assam has 85 per cent farm families and the overall agriculture scenario of the State would improve if the strategies and policies are oriented towards the small, marginal and landless farmers. He said that power tillers would be provided to small and marginal farmers at the subsidy of 75 per cent, rain coats and japis (traditional hat) to protect them from rain and sun, besides 3,000 rupees cash assistance. He said an advisory council comprising farmers and officials would be constituted to look into the problems of the farming community and take remedial steps. Attributing the agriculture losses to the recurrent floods and erosion, Mr.Gogoi said that the Government of India has to provide special package to the affected farmers to compensate their huge losses.The conference is being attended by agriculture ministers and senior officials of all the North Eastern States.