Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 1: Minister for Agriculture, Ghulam Nabi Lone Hanjura today concluded five day tour of the Chenab valley including Chanderkote, Ramban, Doda, Assar and Kishtwar areas.
During his tour, the Minister took stock of various activities being carried out by Agriculture, Sericulture and Command Area Development (CAD) departments in the region. He also inspected various developmental works and interacted with the locals.
The Minister asked officers of Agriculture and its allied departments to put in their best efforts so that maximum benefit is achieved by people under various Centrally Sponsored and State Sector schemes.
The Minister also inaugurated Kisan Mela cum Agricultural Exhibition at Ramban and Doda which were also attended by Vice Chairman, Kissan Advisory Board, Daljeet Singh Chib, Legislators, Neelam Kumar Langeh, Shakti Raj Parihar, Deputy Commissioner Ramban, Bashir Ahmed Dar, senior officers of Agriculture, Sericulture, Command Area and other departments besides farmers of the area.
Various departments had established their stalls and displayed their products in the melas. The representatives of Animal Husbandry, Sheep Husbandry, Fisheries, Horticulture, Agriculture, Sericulture, Handicraft, Handloom and Social Welfare departments interacted with youth and informed them about Government schemes and their benefits.
The Minister highlighted various pro farmer initiatives taken by the Government in agriculture and allied sectors. He also gave a detailed brief about benefits that can be availed under recently launched social security schemes by the State Government including, AASRA and Ladli Beti. He also spoke about benefits of National Food Security Act, slated to be implemented in the state from 1st February 2016.
Enroute, several deputations met the Minister and apprised him about their problems. The Minister gave them a patient hearing and assured that their genuine demands shall be considered on priority. However, in some cases, Mr. Hanjura gave on spot directions to the concerned for immediate redressal.
The Minister also convened a meeting with officers of Agriculture Department at Kishtwar and reviewed overall performance of the department.