Member Legislative Assembly (MLA), Marh Constituency, Choudhary Sukhnandan Kumar today inaugurated Exhibition-cum-Kissan Mela here at Mini Stadium, Bhure Chak, Mandal.The Mela was organized by Agriculture Technology Management Agency (ATMA) in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture, Jammu.MLA Marh, who was also Chief Guest on the occasion, stressed upon the farming community to adapt modern farming techniques. He said farmers can avail benefits from recently launched Centrally Sponsored Schemes like Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojan (PMKSY), Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY), Soil Health Cards, National Mission for Agriculture Extension and Technology (NMAET-ATMA).Choudhary Sukhnandan assured the farmers that State Government is well aware with various problems of farming community, and looked into them for their early redressal.Ch. Sukhnandan asked the Agriculture department to organize similar kind of Exhibition cum Kissan Melas at Panchayat and village level to make aware the farmers with various state and central sponsored schemes so that they could get benefited from these schemes.
Earlier, MLA along with other dignitaries inspected the various stalls of Agriculture and its allied sectors like Horticulture, Animal Husbandry, Sericulture, Fisheries, Agrostology, Seed Analytical Lab, Soil Testing Lab and Soil Survey Division. Many exhibits of vegetables and other crops brought by the farmers were also displayed to induce competitive spirit. The MLA also interacted with the farmers during visit the stalls.More than 2000 farmers participated in the Exhibition-cum-Mela to exhibit 500 vegetable and cereal crops. Besides, some banks also raised awareness on cashless banking and Direct Banking Transfer (DBT) scheme for assistance of the farmers through hoardings and stalls.While delivering the welcome address, Director Agriculture Jammu, A K Malhotra gave overall view and highlighted the role of Agriculture for the welfare and upliftment of the farming community. He emphasized the catalytic role of the Board and advised the farmers to take benefits of the departmental schemes including Centrally Sponsored Schemes. He added it is essential to raise their farm income through diversified/integrated farming systems, besides subsides schemes launched by the allied sectors. He also welcomed the Chief Guest and all stake holders who participated in the Exhibition cum Kissan Mela.
Directorate of Field Publicity Government of India also put up stalls of JKEDI, J&K Grameen Bank, Department of Posts and Field Publicity Information & Broadcasting who are organizing a Rally and Symposium on Thursday at Mandal to highlight various components of Agriculture and allied schemes launched by Prime Minister Office.Among others, who addressed the farmers included Director Information and Broadcasting, Government of India R P Saroj. Besides several farmers, sarpanchs also spoke on the occasion and appreciated the role of MLA and Agriculture Department for conducted the Mela at Mandal and demanded that such types of Kissan Melas should be organized in the area so that more and more farmers could get aware to reap benefits of farmer friendly centrally sponsored schemes.On the occasion, cultural wing of Directorate of Information Jammu, and Information and Broadcasting, Government of India enthralled the audience and the farmers through their rural folk lore items and songs.Later, the MLA also gave away the prizes among the farmers who got their best performance in Agriculture productivity.Chief Agriculture Officer, Convener ATMA Governing Body Jammu, R L Bhagat, officers of Agriculture and other related department, Sarpanchs, Farmers were also participated the Exhibition cum Kissan Mela.