Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 19: Minister for Agriculture, Ghulam Nabi Lone Hanjura today said that Government has taken a number of initiatives for development of agriculture, allied sectors with focused strategy to increase production, productivity of crops and to enable farmers to take advantage of market opportunities.
While replying to the Discussion on Demand for Grants of Agriculture Department in the Legislative Assembly, here today he said new avenues are being explored for investment in the sector and a new hope among the people has emerged with the concerted efforts of the department.
Giving details of various major initiatives, the Minister announced that Mufti Mohammad Sayeed Farmers Value Enhancement Programme (MMSFVEP) will be launched soon in the State to give further boost to agriculture sector.
The Minister said that it will be taken up on pilot basis in one block of every district for which an allocation of Rs 22.50 crore is being proposed under CAPEX for 2018-19.
The Minister said that it will shortly commission State of the Art Saffron Spice Park at Dusso (Pampur) which is fully equipped for quality control, testing and e-trading facilities.
Hanjura expressed his gratitude to Chief Minister and Finance Minister for earmarking Rs 5 crore for the purpose as there was a constant demand from the Saffron Growers.
He further said that under Capex Budget 2017-18, Rs 62 lakh have been allocated for Sericulture out of which Rs 37 lakh have been utilized on various Sericulture activities.
Under CADP, four projects are ongoing at Sonawari, Ganderbal, Uri, Vessuand Kulgamin Kashmir division amounting to Rs 20.57 crore. He said that 12 new projects amounting to Rs 92.17crore are proposed and DPRs for the same have been prepared.
In Jammu division, projects including at Pargwal, Udhampur, Rajouri, Kishtwar & Ramban have been taken up at a cost of Rs 90.47 crore besides 5 new projects amounting to Rs 181.73 crores are proposed, he said.
Hanjura said that SKUAST-K has released 12 new varieties for cultivation in the State including 2 of rice, 2 maize, 2 brown sarsoon and one each in Rajmash, chickpea, lentil, methi, coriander and soyabean.
Similarly, SKUAST-J has developed an Integrated Farming System (IFS) model for small and marginal farmers for their livelihood, security and doubling of farmer’s income.
The department had established Rice Cluster at R S Pura and Suchetgarh in Jammu under which thrust is being given to the promotion of Indigenous Basmati rice under participatory guarantee system for organic certification involving total cost of Rs 33.66 crore for 3 years.
On the pattern of Mushk Budji and Basmati (370), the department intends to promote revival of Zag in Karnah and Kamad rice varieties through interventional measures for up scaling their production, the Minister said.
For the promotion of vegetable cultivation especially in Chenab Valley and other adjacent areas which have emerged larger producers of vegetables will be given focused attention, Hanjura informed.
With an objective to popularize latest technological knowhow for enhancing production and productivity of vegetables in identified cluster areas, intensive Vegetable Development clusters in Srinagar, Pulwama, Budgam, Anantnag in Kashmir and Jammu, Kathua in Jammu division would be established with an estimated cost of Rs 10.86 crore, he added.
Under Organic Vegetable Cluster in Leh and Kargil, he said that High Tech Polly House would be established and provision of Hybrid vegetable seeds for distribution, promotion and adoption of organic farming will be provided to farmers.
With an objective to promote potato cultivation, a virus free potato seed village was established at Kanidajan in Budgam, the Minister said.
174 women self-help groups are active in production of vegetables, mushrooms, he said, adding that to give boost to api-culture in the State, the department would establish api-culture clusters at Ramban & Kupwara.
The Minister said that to increase production of Rajmash through area extension, productivity enhancement in sustainable manner and restoring soil fertility, he said Rajmash clusters in Kishtwar and Bhaderwah at an estimated cost of Rs 10.25 crore would be established.
Hanjura informed the House that Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojna is being implemented in all 10 districts of Jammu division w.e.f Kharif 2017 for the notified crops viz paddy, wheat, maize and mango.
For bringing transparency in fertilizer distribution, he said that distribution will be rolled out on DBT mode from February, 2018 for which Point of Sale machines have already been distributed to retail and wholesale fertilizer dealers.
With regard to irrigation initiatives taken, the Minister said that the department has drawn up 22 district irrigation plans requiring Rs 14688 crore, and DIPs stands submitted to Ministry of Agriculture GoI for funding.
The Minister said that Agro Industries Development Corporation is doing well has earned a profit of Rs 1.20 crore by the end of December 2017. It will set up Kisan friendly Petrol Pumps at Lal Mandi, Khunmoh and Bijbehara, he added.
Later, the House passed with voice vote the grants amounting to Rs 184012.16 lakh for agriculture and allied departments.
Initiating the discussion, legislator Mian Altaf Ahmad asked the Government to distribute high quality seeds among farmers. He demanded agriculture universities should conduct research to find remedies for crop diseases.
Mohammad Khalil Bandh, while underscoring the importance of agriculture sector in the State said that the modern cultivation techniques have improved the produce in the State.
Sukhnandan Choudhary urged the Government to provide improved high yielding seeds at subsidized rates to the farmers to improve yield. He also appealed the Government to create awareness among the farmers about modern farming techniques for better production.
He said Government needs to take steps to curb sale of sub standard sprays and fertilizers in the market as these have taken huge toll on the production and has destroyed crops of farmers.
Aijaz Ahmad Khan suggested for effective implementation of Centrally sponsored and State sector schemes aimed at to improve the economy of farmers.
Hakeem Mohammad Yasin said development of agriculture guarantees development of the rural economy as the majority of the rural population is dependent on this sector. He urged the Government to adopt long-term plans to increase agriculture production to minimize imports in future.
Sheikh Ishfaq Jabbar underscored the need for conducting frequent farmer study tours, laying special focus on Command Area Development schemes and providing liberal funding under the sector for execution of various developmental works in his constituency.
Shah Mohammad Tantray urged upon various departments to work in tandem to ensure the benefits of various schemes reach to the farmers. Bashir Ahmad Dar urged for introducing new initiatives and imparting training to the farmers about latest and scientific cultivation techniques.
Rajeev Jasrotia stressed on liberal funding for the sector. He hailed Centre and State Governments for introducing various farmer welfare schemes including Soil Health Testing and PMKSY and underscored the need for effective implementation on the ground.
Vikar Rasool Wani expressed concern over shrinking of agriculture land in both urban and rural areas and asked the Government to put a ban on conversion of agriculture land for other purposes.
Mohammad Akbar Lone underscored the need for effective implementation of the agriculture sector schemes on the ground. He called for the revival of sericulture – a traditional and once thriving activity in the State.
Raja Manzoor hoped that the Government will take some revolutionary steps to improve agriculture production. He said the ban on construction of houses on agriculture land should be strictly implemented.
Pawan Gupta called for strengthening irrigation network saying that it is the backbone of the agriculture. He said only 5 percent of the land in his constituency has irrigation facility.
Dr Krishan Lal urged the Government to upgrade irrigation facilities in his constituency by way of constructing bore wells and other techniques.
Asgar Ali Karbalai informed that Kargil has become self-sufficient in vegetable production and urged the Government to encourage the locals by providing more incentives to the farmers.
Mubarak Gul called for devising a strategy to preserve vegetables to increase their lifespan.
Abdul Rahim Rather urged the Government to expand existing potato farm in Kokernag by including 1200 kanals land available around it. He also urged the Government to assist and persuade the farmers to opt for rotation of crops as per the feasibility of the area to increase their income.
Ravinder Raina, while terming agriculture as the major contributor in the State’s GDP, urged the Government to form Village Farmer Committees on the pattern of Village Education committees to monitor the issues related to agriculture in particular areas.
G M Saroori expressed concern over, that 70 percent curtailment of funds by the Centre in the irrigation sector. He said the move has taken a heavy toll and affected agriculture production.
Altaf Ahmad Wani urged the Government to lift the ban on conversion of agriculture land for other use as returns for agriculture are extremely low for farmers at the moment. He called for a special policy tailored to remove the hindrances and meet requirements of the State agriculture.
Chowdhary Qamar Hussain urged the Government to provide liberal funding for agriculture and other allied sectors adding that it is getting meagre funding under district plan.
Abdul Majid Larmi urged the government to remove the encroachments on agricultural land in Homeshalibug. He said the area is considered Rice Bowl of Kashmir but owing to encroachments, the yield has come down.
Gulzar Ahmad Wani urged the Government to assist the farmers in adoption of modern techniques by holding awareness camps and organising farmers’ tours of far-flung areas.
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