Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 19: Terming Agriculture, Horticulture and Animal Husbandry as crucial departments for the State of Jammu and Kashmir, the members of Opposition as well as ruling parties pitched for more attention with enhanced budget and planning for these sectors.
Participating in the discussion on grants for these departments, these members suggested diversification of crop, improved quality of seed and technology for farming, etc for enhancing the yield.
However, a few members were at feet over alleged non-serious attitude of the Government towards plights of farmers, who are forced to sell their products at throwaway prices due to no market facilities for them.
Choudhary Sukhnandan of BJP alleged that nothing would come out of the discussion, which was a futile exercise as Government was least bothered about plights and issues of farmers. Narrating his own experiences of getting extremely low prices of agricultural products, particularly vegetables in the Mandis, he lamented that rates of agricultural products are decided by brokers and not the farmers.
He also highlighted the issue of inadequate supply of irrigational water, power, fertilizers, good quality seeds etc.
Listing figures to highlight importance of the Agriculture sector, which has 21 percent share in GDP of the State, BJP MLA Gharu Ram Bhagat stressed the need for improved technology, better seed replace rate and some other measures for increasing the crop yield.
Mohd Sharief Niaz of Congress stressed for better marking of agricultural products, more awareness to farmers, development of pastures and opening of Sheep Husbandry Centres in far-flung areas.
Rashpal Singh of NC said that 77 percent people of the State have direct involvement in Agriculture and Sheep Husbandry sectors, which need more attention of the Government. He also demanded setting up of a unit of pop-corn in Poonch-Rajouri where maize crops production is in abundance.
A R Veeri of PDP said that lamented that the Government was taking these departments very casually notwithstanding their crucial and most significant importance in J&K. Horticulture and Agriculture are not mere departments but a movement, for which the Government has misplaced priority,” he said and listed some suggestions for more yield and its better management.
Hakeem Yasin lamented that despite intense importance of these sectors, nominal funds were provided to the departments, which are sustaining on Central assistance. He also expressed his concern over shrinking of agricultural land and alleged that Roshni scheme was misused for conversion of agricultural land into commercial one.
JKNPP MLA Harshdev Singh also expressed his concern over shrinking of agricultural land and stressed the need of effective implementation of the existing laws to check the same instead of formulating new laws. Lamenting over poor economic condition of farmers despite their hard work, he stressed for more awareness, adequate support price for their products, better marketing, improved technology and infrastructure and good quality seeds.
Mohd Yusuf Tarigami asked the Government to fix a deadline of year 2025 for doubling meat, milk, Agriculture and Horticulture production in J&K. Suggesting speedy diversification of crop, marketing and viability of the agricultural products, subsidies to marginal farmers, etc, he lamented that despite market demand and suitable environment, no thrust on expansion of these sector was given by the Planning and Finance Departments.
Ashwani Sharma also stressed for more budget for Agriculture sector. Even as Government initiatives have started yielding results, more is to be done with better marketing, awareness of farmers, crop insurance, enhanced budget provisions for the sector, technical advancement etc, he said and demanded Agriculture Sub-Division at Bishnah.
Charanjeet Singh demanded that plan allocation for Agriculture should be increased besides more subsidies for bore well, lift irrigation schemes etc.
Indu Pawar demanded timely supply of fertilizers and more facilities for cold storage. She also highlighted some local demands of Marh farmers.
Abdul Razzak, Irfan Shah, T Namgyal, Syed Bashir, Ashok Kumar, Dr Shafi Wani, Abdul Razzak and Er Rashid also participated in the discussion on the grants.
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