Srinagar: As a part of agricultural mechanization support to the farmers for broader economic transformation, Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha on Sunday handed over sanction letters for 100 tractors to the farmers and 1035 threshers for Panchayats at Agriculture Complex, Lal Mandi.
On the occasion, he also launched website of Organic Certification Agency and also the Vetrinary Ambulatory Service.Mechanization of farming is one of the important factors to transform the agriculture sector. It will further lead to sweeping changes and help farmers produce more, said the Lt Governor.
Terming Agriculture & horticulture sectors as key drivers of UT’s economic growth, the Lt Governor said that the government has ensured efficient use of seed technologies, high-density plantation, nutrient management, and widespread adoption of integrated dairy farming scheme to make J&K Agricultural Powerhouse.
Listing the reforms introduced by the government to transform the agriculture sector, the Lt Governor observed that the agriculture department is providing facilities like cold storage, market linkages and food processing units, besides developing a strong framework for farmer-industry connect and generating employment opportunities for rural youth to bridge the urban-rural divide.
The Lt Governor advised the farmers to adopt new ways like cash crops, intercropping along with traditional agriculture for the steady increase in farm income.
On the interventions made by the J&K Government to strengthen Farm Mechanization, the Lt Governor observed that the government is setting up Custom Hiring Centers and Farm Machinery Banks in different parts of the UT. As many as 151 Custom Hiring Centers and 122 Farm Machinery Banks have also been started so far, he added.
Making strides in transforming the agricultural sector, the Government has set the target of providing 500 tractors to the farmers. Similarly, we had decided to provide threshers to panchayats for harvesting of paddy and maize. As many as 1147 threshers were given earlier and sanction letters for 1035 are being issued today, added the Lt Governor.
The Lt Governor underscored the interventions made by the government for the promotion of the local products. Now NAFED will sell Kashmir’s Saffron at all its outlets across the country, thereby providing another option to the farmers to sell their produce at attractive prices, he added.
Apart from Saffron, J&K is number one in the whole country in the production of Apple, Walnut and Almond, and I hope that the upcoming industries in food processing sector will help the farmer’s income to grow manifold in the coming days, said the Lt Governor.
The Lt Governor observed that the reforms brought in the agriculture and allied sector are yielding encouraging results. Online organic certification has also started in J&K to facilitate registration and ensure growth in organic farming, he said.
For the first time in history, 2000 trucks of vegetables have been exported from Jammu and Kashmir to other parts of the country. J&K has achieved top position in the entire country with a yield of 70 quintals per hectare of paddy. We are converting 60,000 hectares of Basmati agricultural land into high productivity land, the Lt Governor observed.
In the last one year, we have produced a record 5400 metric tonnes of mushroom and 22,182 quintals of honey. Kisan Credit Cards have been made available to more than 11 lakh 60 thousand farmer brothers. Today, Rs 8,000 cr worth market of apples is changing the lives of 30 lakh people connected with the sector, he added.
The Lt Governor also spoke on the remarkable progress being made in the dairy sector.
The Lt Governor asked the youth to take up agriculture and allied activities as career options. In agriculture and horticulture, there will be no shortage of finance and cooperation from the administration, he added.
He also pointed out the measures taken by the government in terms of pesticides, fertilizers, besides imparting training to the farmers. He further suggested promoting cooperative agriculture and horticulture by constituting clusters.
On the occasion, the Lt Governor launched the Website of Organic Certification Agency. With the launch of the website, the facility of registration will be available to the farmers of Jammu and Kashmir with linkage to national and international markets, he said.
Meanwhile, the Lt Governor felicitated progressive farmers and released Seed Dynamics book and Saffron Booklet. He also inspected stalls displayed in the Farmers’ organic market and launched Veterinary Ambulatory Services.
Speaking on the occasion, Rajeev Rai Bhatnagar, Advisor to Lt Governor underscored the reforms brought by the Government for getting appropriate dividends for farmers and other stakeholders associated with the sector.
Navin Kumar Choudhary, Principal Secretary to the Government, Department of Agriculture Production & Farmer’s Welfare, in his address, highlighted various farm-centric initiatives that were taken by the government. He also spoke on the initiatives taken by the department to promote organic farming, besides encouraging seed production in J&K.
On extending mobile veterinary services, the Principal Secretary said that 48 such centres will be launched in the coming days.
Chowdhary Mohammad Iqbal, Director Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Kashmir delivered the welcome address and highlighted the achievements recorded by the Agriculture Department.
Pandurang K Pole, Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir; Vijay Kumar, IGP Kashmir; members of J&K Advisory Board for development of Kisans; senior officials; farmers from various parts of the region were present on the occasion.