Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 21: A meeting of Senior Officers of Department of Agriculture, Revenue Department and representatives of National Seed Corporation Ltd.(NSCL) Mohali, Chandigarh was convened here, today under the chairmanship of Showkat Ahmad Beigh, Secretary Agriculture Production Department, J & K to finalize the draft Memorandum of Understanding between the two institutions for establishing Seed Processing and Storage Unit on 16 Kanals of land at Village Taraf Manjali Tehsil & District Kathua .
The proposed unit is a welfare step of the Government of India & the State Government for the benefit of farming community. For the first time National Seed Corporation of India Limited is establishing Seed Processing Plant in the J&K State for the benefit of the farming community.
It may be recalled that the initiative for the establishment of Seed plant in the State was taken by Union Minister of State in PMO, Dr Jitendra Singh who is also the MP from Kathua-Doda Parliamentary Constituency for the benefit of the farmers of the State last year after taking the issue with the concerned Union Ministry.
The setting up of the unit is aimed at augmenting quality seed supply to the farmers which shall be readily available to them in adequate quantity and at the right time. Seed being the most vital and crucial input for crop production can boost productivity and production and in turn increase the income of the farmers. This step will ultimately help in doubling the income of farmers of the State in the years to come.
With the establishment of this unit at Kathua, the farmers of the State will get a big relief as the State Agriculture Department is presently procuring the processed seed from Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. The quality seed will be timely available in the State from next sowing season. During the meeting the Secretary Agriculture issued instructions to speed up the process for establishment of seed processing facilities in J & K for which Government has already transferred 16 kanals of land to Agriculture Department. It was apprised that the tentative cost of Seed Processing Unit including storage facility is of the order of Rs. 8.00 crore which shall be borne entirely by National Seed Corporation Limited.
The meeting was attended by the officers of Revenue Department, National Seed Corporation Ltd and other senior officers of the Agriculture Department.
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