Minister for Agriculture, Ghulam Nabi Lone Hanjura Monday emphasized on introducing latest technology in all productive sectors like agriculture, floriculture, sericulture, fisheries, horticulture, animal and sheep husbandry aiming at improving the socio-economic conditions of the farming community, adding that this is the only key source to ensure prosperity of the State in general and farming community in particular.The Minister was addressing a gathering at Khour in tehsil Jourian district Jammu today after inaugurating one day Awareness camp-cum-Kisan Mela. The camp was organized by the J&K State Advisory Board for Development of Kisans under Information, Education and Communication (IEC) programme.Vice Chairman, J&K State Advisory Board for Development of Kisans, Mr. Daljit Singh Chib, MLA Khour Dr. Krishan Lal Bhagat, Director Agriculture Jammu, Director Floriculture Jammu and other senior officers of Agriculture and its allied wings, a number of farmers and prominent citizen of Khour area participated in the Programme.
The Minister said that such Melas make farmers aware about latest technology and also its use for boosting crop and its cultivation besides increasing production in livestock, milk and mutton.
Hanjura expressed hope that the deliberations held during the Mela will prove beneficial to the participants and will pave way for bringing about excellence in agriculture and its allied sectors. He advised the farmers to take benefits of Pradhanmantri Fasal Bema Youjna, Pradhanmantri Seenchayi Youjna, Jan Dhan Youja and other schemes.He said under Pradhanmantri Seenchayi Youjna, the Department of Agriculture has prepared detailed project reports and submitted to the concerned for arrangement of funds. He said under the scheme every piece of land will get irrigating facility.Referring to the conducting of soil testing, Mr. Hanjura said that 6 Mobile Soil Testing Lab are presently functional in Jammu and the concerned departments have been asked to ensure soil testing in each area of the Jammu province.The Minister said that PDP-BJP Government headed by Mehbooba Mufti is committed for upliftment of the farmers and appealed the people for cooperation.
Vice Chairman, J&K State Advisory Board in his address appealed the farmers to avail benefits from the schemes launched by the Government. He said Government has launched several Centrally and State sponsored schemes with the aim to uplift farming community adding that focused attention is being given to promote the agriculture sector as this has a huge potential in the State but need is to adopt latest techniques besides launching awareness campaign in every nook and corner of the State to educate farmers about scientific methods.Earlier, the Minister went round various stalls demonstrating modern machinery equipments, implements, tool, and pesticides of various brands and their usage. He took keen interest in observing the usage of the modern equipments.During inspection of fisheries stall, the Minister was informed that 40 carp pond were established under Centrally Sponsored scheme RKVY in Khour-Akhnoor Constituency and 70 community ponds have already been started with quality fish seed for development of community pond for fisheries purpose. He was also informed that in Akhnoor area there is huge potential for composite fish culture. The Minister directed them to conduct field visits and proper checking of these ponds. MLA Khour Dr. Bhagat also spoke on the occasion and highlighted the resolve of present dispensation which is keen to do a lot for the farming community.During the inaugural address, Director Agriculture, Jammu informed the audience about the aims and objectives of the Mela besides activities of the department.