Minister of State for Agriculture, Mr. Sunil Kumar Sharma today informed the House that Government would take necessary steps to organize training camps and seminars for creating awareness among the farmers about the benefits of the schemes launched by the government for increasing agriculture production.
Replying to supplementaries raised by some members to main question of Mr. Mohammad Abbass Wani, the Minister assured that awareness camps about the benefits of the agriculture schemes would be organized in all left out areas shortly, adding that fake awareness camps pinpointed by some members would be investigated and those officials found involved in such practice would be dealt with strictly.The Minister said that requisite steps would be taken to simplify the process of providing loan to farmers and banks would be made accountable to expedite loan cases of farmers in time bound manner.
The Minister said that Centre has approved funds under centrally sponsored scheme for taking up conservation work on the agriculture land affected due to soil erosion. The same would be taken up through Soil Conservation Department in the affected areas, he further added.Replying to the main question, the Minister said that various programmes are being conducted for creating awareness among farmers about various schemes at district, block, panchayat and halqa level. The training on use of latest technology and inputs in production and post harvest management, marketing etc are also being taught at the programmes, he further added.He said that in this regard demonstrations, Kissan Melas, Kissan Ghosties, fruit shows, seminars and farmer-scientist interactions are also being organized besides utilizing services of electronic and print media in this regard.
The Minister said that for ensuring banking assistance in the implementation of various schemes, Kissan Credit Cards (KCC) is being operated by different banks which extend credit facility to farmers for purchasing various agriculture inputs required for cultivating various crops to enhance its production and productivity.
The Minister said that under various centrally sponsored schemes there is a provision to provide back ended subsidy for implementation of various interventions such as Agri-business Centers, Collection Centers, Refrigerator Vans, Vending Cards and Procurement of machinery etc. He said that assistance is provided on project based activities through banks in which bank provides loan to the growers on the norms of guideline of centrally sponsored scheme. He said that the assistance is related as back ended subsidy on completion of the projects.Mian Altaf Ahmed, Mr. Mubarak Gul, Mr. Yawar Dilwar Mir and Mr. Javaid Rana raised supplementaries to the main question.