*Shares J&K’s perspective on Agriculture, allied fields
Excelsior Correspondent
NEW DELHI, Sept 15: Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha today attended the Lt Governor’s conference on agricultural sector organized by Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi.
Speaking on the occasion, the Lt Governor shared J&K’s perspective on the broad approach of the UT Government taking Agriculture and allied sectors on the path of sustainable and inclusive growth.
“We have created an enabling environment for transforming Agriculture and allied sectors of J&K to increase the income of our famers in line with the National targets, create jobs, ensure food security, speed up the economy and enhance the contribution of agriculture and allied sectors in the Gross Domestic Product of the UT,” the Lt Governor said.
The Lt Governor expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar for extending liberal financial assistance to support efforts in widening the development of Agriculture and allied sectors in Jammu & Kashmir.
Sinha highlighted the reformative interventions made by the government leading to sweeping changes in J&K’s Agriculture sector during the past one year.
“We are working on an integrated approach. From reducing input cost & increasing quality at pre harvest stage, facilitation of our farmers to link them with domestic and international markets has become a new normal,” the Lt Governor said.
Consistent efforts are being made to diversify the agriculture by bringing in credit, technology, extension to step up present growth rate; besides building capacities of farmers together with creating entrepreneurship; encouraging High Density Plantation; extending agricultural mechanization support and developing Market infrastructure.
“The growth potential of Agriculture and Horticulture sector has started finding interest among potential investors. Our progress in the sector has now attracting markets and entrepreneurs from outside J&K,” added the Lt Governor.
While listing out the support extended to the farmers for getting maximum returns, and facilitating Market Linkages of the local produce, the Lt Governor said that the low remunerative crops are being replaced with the high value cash crops. There has been a massive increase in the cultivation of organic and exotic vegetables during last two years. For the first time, more than 2000 truckloads of vegetables have been marketed across the country, he added.
“Apart from GI tagging of Saffron, J&K administration has made new strides in organic certification of products like Basmati Rice and transportation of perishable products through air cargo to various domestic markets,” he observed.
“Rootstock is being imported from outside the country for developing High Density Plantation orchards. A new Scheme vis-a-vis ‘Development of High Density Plantation Nurseries’ has been introduced to make J&K Aatmanirbhar in the input support in terms of High Density plants,” the Lt Governor said.
During the last one year, 40,000 MTs of storage has been established thereby making available a total of 1.65 LMT of CA storage facilities in Jammu & Kashmir. Also, another 35,000 MTs of storage capacity is under construction, added the Lt Governor.
On the occasion, the Lt Governor sought Rs 800 crore support from the Union Government for Modified High Density Plantation in J&K.
The Union Minister said that the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund will provide infrastructure facilities at farm gate for small farmers.
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