Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Oct 21: ‘Agriculture is a major economic sector of India and therefore it is pertinent that we put concerted efforts for its development’. District Development Commissioner, Sachin Kumar Vaishya stressed the importance of agriculture in India during a meeting held today to review the Holistic Agriculture Development Program implementation in the district.
At the meeting, the DDC stressed the need for officials to carefully implement sector-specific programs to improve the lives of agriculture dependent families. He emphasised the fair distribution of benefits under HADP and other government schemes.
Officers from the Horticulture, Fisheries, Sheep Husbandry and Animal Husbandry departments provided updates on the status of schemes related to their respective fields.
The Animal Husbandry Department discussed livestock and poultry sectors, including subsidies, operational challenges and approval processes for schemes like Integrated Dairy Development Scheme and Nationwide Artificial Insemination Programme.
The Sheep Husbandry Department discussed schemes such as Integrated Poultry Development Program, National Animal Disease Control Program, Rashtriya Gokul Mission, MAITRI and Pashu Sakhi.
The DDC suggested encouraging Pashu Sakhi and prioritising women for benefits. He also stressed the need to ensure that the most deserving candidates benefit from Government schemes.
The meeting also covered mutton production, wool and pelt production, processing and support for Self Help Groups and Farmers Producer Organisations.
The Fisheries Department talked about initiatives like the Mini Feed Mill, Bio Floc Unit, Backyard Mini Recirculating Aquaculture System and Carp Unit Construction. The Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana was also key focus of the meeting.
The Horticulture Department shared information about polyhouses, root stock banks, farm mechanisation, automation and more.
The meeting also heard about the construction of rearing houses by the Sericulture Department.
Those present at the meeting included Chief Planning Officer, Yoginder Katoch and officers from the concerned Departments.