Adil Lateef
SRINAGAR: Despite the announcement made by Minister of Horticulture Abdul Rehman Veeri of waiver on 50% Kisan Credit Card (KCC) loans, in the Budget Session last year, the department has, however, so far given no such waiver even as the new session is approaching. Besides, the work on the most of the other projects announced is yet to complete and officials insist the work is under process.
The Horticulture Minister had last year said that to provide immediate relief to the farming community, the Government had announced waiver of 50% KCC loans in case of small and vulnerable farmers in view of the crop loss suffered by them due to floods. However, the officials in the Department said that no such benefit has been provided to the farmers so far.
President of the Fruit Growers Association Shopian, Mohammad Amin said the announcement was only verbal and nothing has been done on the ground. “Like other announcements it also proved hoax,” he said. Pertinent to mention here that the south Kashmir districts were one of the worst hit during September 2014 floods and the farmers suffered heavy losses. Infact the Horticulture Department has received queries from the lawmakers with regards to the announcement of waiver for the upcoming budget session of State Assembly.
The other announcement made by the Horticulture Minister was establishment of two Centers of Excellence one each at Jammu and Srinagar respectively at an estimated cost of Rs. 10 crore. However, none of the Centers have been established yet at both places. A top official in the department said the Detailed Project Report (DPR) with regards to these Centers have submitted to the Government of India (GoI).
“We have submitted the DPR for approval by Empowered Monitoring Committee (EMC) of Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH). As per a verbal communiqué a meeting would be held shortly for the same and it would be approved,” said the official. As per the Government, these centres would provide technology knowhow to the farmers for improving the quality of fruits and boosting the production.
With regards to the Crop Insurance announced to safeguard the interests of farmers, the Horticulture Department so far has not brought any crop in its ambit. The department had earlier proposed to provide the insurance cover to farmers in case of hailstorm. However, the growers have urged the department to provide insurance in case of natural calamities too.
In this regard, sources said, the Minister Veeri held a meeting with the fruit growers recently and they demanded that the insurance cover in case of calamities like floods. “The Minister told the growers that they are framing the policy in this regard,” said the sources.
During the previous budget session, the Horticulture Minister had announced that the Government will enact a stringent law to check the menace of sale of spurious pesticides. However, no such law has been enacted so far but officials of the department said that the powers have been allotted to Horticulture Development Officers to control the menace of the sale of substandard pesticides.
The Government had later announced setting up of Pesticides Regulatory Authority and the Minister had directed constituting of core committee for formulation of guidelines of the Authority with the advice of Law Department. There is, however, no progress over it as of now and the department officials said that they are not aware about any development.
The Horticulture Department is yet to place the orders with regards to high density plantation in the State. The officials of the department said that tendering and other formalities have been completed but they are awaiting funds for the same. A team of the officials also went to Holland. The department is also yet to allot the mobile solid testing labs one for Jammu and two for Kashmir.
Despite announcement of setting up six cold storages in Valley and Jammu including at Sopore, Parimpora, Shopian, Jablipora (Bijbehara), Kulgam and Narwal are yet to be established with officials saying that “process is underway”. At present there is, however, no cold storage in Valley as well as in Jammu region. Contrary to the Government’s announcement, the pesticides labs at the district headquarters have also not been installed.
Urging Government to implement it announcements, the Fruit Growers Association president Mohammad Amin Shah said the State’s Horticulture Department should take cue from the Himachal Pradesh in this sector. “Compared to our State, the Himachal Pradesh’s fruit industry is small but the way the Government there has taken steps is appreciable. They have maintained quality and standard and they have a very good growth. Our Government only announces but never implements,” he said.
Amin said that the farmers from Valley go to Himachal for buying standard pesticides and high density plants. “They have standard pesticides and that is now many of our farmers buy from there. The Government should take cue from Himachal,” he added.
Trending Now
E-Paper
Follow our WhatsApp channel