Vice Chairman, State Advisory Board for Development of Kissans (SABDK), Daljit Singh Chib today underlined the need to encourage youth of the state to take up agriculture as their profession and use of modern techniques to get maximum returns. Chib was interacting with the farmers of Kathua, who called on him to submit a memorandum of demands regarding opening of additional procurement centres in the district.Responding to the issues raised by deputation members, Vice Chairman informed that the government has started various schemes for providing subsidy to the farmers for purchasing seeds, fertilizers and farming tools. The youth should come forward and avail the opportunities in the field of agriculture as this sector has huge potential, he added.The Vice Chairman assured the farmers that the government will open sufficient number of paddy procurement centres in all potential districts of the state for the convenience of farming community. Two paddy procurement centres would be setup in Kathua, in addition to the four already operating in the area, he informed further.
Stressing upon timely opening of procurement centres, he said this was imperative to help the farmers to sell their produce at the Minimum Support Price being fixed for the current season.The Vice Chairman appealed the farmers to avail benefit of the schemes being implemented in the state for the growth of agriculture and allied activities. He informed that Kissan Melas would be organized in Bilawar and Kathua soon to educate the farmers about techniques being used to modernize the cultivation process. The deputation members demanded coverage of all farmers under Kissan Credit Card scheme and release of compensation for the damage to the Rabi crops due to heavy rains in March, 2015. The Vice Chairman assured them that their issues would be taken up at the appropriate forum.