Vice-Chairman J&K State Advisory Board for Development of Kissans, Daljeet Singh Chib today said that steps are on to implement the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojna (PMFBY) scheme in Jammu and Kashmir state.He was responding to the demands raised at a joint meeting of progressive farmers and the Officers of Agriculture and allied sectors convened to assess and solve the issues faced by farmers for the Kharif Season, 2016 .“In a recently held meeting with the Chief Minister all these issues were raised with the consequent quick action in the form of setting up of a state level committee for early application of PMFBY during the present Kharif season” he told the farmers. He also assured the gathering that re-constitution of the Kisan Board is in the pipeline in the near future.In the meeting, farmers highlighted various issues pertaining to their overall development and welfare and sought immediate and active consideration by the concerned departments.They stressed on holding maximum awareness camps by allied departments for knowledge sharing and dissemination of technical knowhow and frequent field visits of the concerned functionaries to fields before the beginning of agriculture season, steps to prevent crop destruction by wild animals, desilting of the canals before the beginning of irrigation of crops to ensure flow to the tail end and maintenance of Kuls at higher reaches.
Farmers also stressed on immediate implementation of Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojna (PMFBY) scheme in the State for which funds are required to be allocated to the Agriculture and allied sectors. They also sought immediate steps for waiving off 50% loan taken against the Kisan Credit Cards by the farmers as announced by the Finance Minister during his last budget speech.They stressed on establishment of permanent procurement mandies so that the farmers are in a position to sell their harvest at minimum support price and are saved from distress sale.Asserting that Jammu province can cater to the market worth Rs 300 crore in floriculture sector, the farmers stressed for providing timely inputs, know-how, extension and marketing infrastructure to achieve this feat.Regarding the demands of desilting and irrigation, the concerned departments were instructed to initiate quick action in this regard with timely distribution of seeds and fertilizers.Among others present in the meeting were Director Agriculture Dr. S. S. Jamwal, Director Horticulture A. K. Sharma, Director Floriculture K. K. Sharma, Superintending Engineer (Hydraulics) R. K. Gupta, Xen. Tubewell irrigation, Sunil Bhasin ,Technical officer to CE Irrigation and Flood control and state level progressive farmers of Jammu region