MUMBAI: Union Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh on Monday asked the Maharashtra government to achieve better results in the agriculture sector this year.

He told this to senior state agriculture officials while reviewing the progress of central schemes like Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) in the state.

“Singh urged the officials to ensure that 2016-17 should still be better in terms of achievements in various sectors of agriculture in the state,” an official statement said. The minister said 34.27 lakh soil health cards have been issued so far in the state under the soil health card scheme, for which the Centre has allocated Rs 50.03 crore to the state government for this financial year. Under PMKSY, district irrigation plans have been prepared in nine out of 34 districts in the state, he said. Singh also said that the central government plans to set up a Farm Machinery Training and Testing Institute in Maharashtra, for which 35 hectare land has been identified in Jalgaon district. “Necessary action is being taken to start the institute in this financial year 2016-17,” the statement said quoting the minister.–PTI