Vice Chairman, State Advisory Board for Development of Kissans, (JKSABDK) Daljit Singh Chib, has reiterated the commitment of present government for raising socio economic status of farming community. This was stated by the Vice Chairman during a meeting convened to review progress on Paddy Procurement Centres opened in current season and to take inputs from members, farmers regarding the requirement of seed, fertilizers for upcoming Rabi Season in Jammu region.Besides the members of the Board from Jammu Division, Managing Director Agro Industries Development Corporation Rakesh Khujaria, Secretary JKSABDK Abdul Hamid Wani, Assistant Director, Entrepreneur Development Institute (EDI) Dr. Majid Khan and the officers of various departments were present in the meeting.Vice Chairman said that the Board is committed for the welfare of farmers of state. He said that there is urgent need to establish permanent procurement mandies and more Krishi Vigyan Kendras in the State for which the Board has also approached Union Agriculture Ministry for providing special funds to state government. The Vice Chairman assured the farmers that the matter regarding revival of Cooperative sector especially for procurement and better marketing of agriculture products will be taken up with the Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, who is Chairperson of the Board.
Highlighting the importance of women in Agriculture, the Vice Chairman said that Kissan Board will facilitate the Women farmers, especially recently trained from Indian Agriculture Research institute, New Delhi for making Self-help Groups for establishing their own Processing Units.The Board members appreciated the efforts of VC Board in facilitating the opening of Paddy Procurement Centres through FCI in the State due to which the farmers were able to sell their produce smoothly and without any kind of exploitation.The Managing Director JK Agro Industries Development Corporation informed that the Corporation shall provide necessary marketing platform for the entrepreneur and self-help groups engaged in food processing work.The Assistant Director, EDI intimated that the Institute provides capacity building and skill development under "Seed Capital Fund Scheme" to those unemployed youth of the State who are not in a position to arrange margin money for establishing small scale units under subsidy component available with the governments. He said that EDI provides 35% of the project cost which is non-refundable as margin money. He emphasized that Board members should create awareness about this scheme among the youth in their respective districts.The Board members highlighted various demands and problems in the meeting regarding opening of more Maize Procurement Centres, Soil Testing facilities, and timely inputs to the farmers so that they can live a dignified life. Some of the Board members suggested that the farmers should be provided quality seed and timely inputs besides a better marketing platform, besides all the crops grown in the state should be covered under Prime Minister's Fasal Bima Yojana.The issue of price fall in Basmati Rice was also raised by the farmers of R S Pura belt and the Board members requested that the Government should fix the Minimum Support price for Basmati Rice which shall remain in force till whole season so that the interest of the farmers are saved.