To review the implementation of various State/Centrally schemes and preparation for Rabi 2016-17 cropping season, Financial Commissioner, Agriculture Production Department, Pramod Kumar Jain, convened a meeting of concerned officers here today.During the course of meeting, Jain said that Rabi harvest is critical to country’s food security and as such stressed upon the agricultural functionaries to ensure bumper Rabi harvest. He directed officials to prepare a detailed report on Rabi prospects and strategy for Kashmir Division.While giving a detailed presentation, Director Agriculture, Showkat A. Beigh apprised about the action plans and initiatives taken by the department to enhance the production of Rabi crops for the year 2016-17. It was informed that the department is keeping adequate stock of certified seeds and fertilizers to meet the requirements of farmers across the Kashmir Valley.It was also informed that action plan for seven State/Centrally schemes 2016-17 including Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY), National Mission for Saffron (NMS), Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH), National Mission on Oilseed and Oilpalm (NMOOP), National food security Mission (NFSM), National Mission on Agriculture & Tech (NMAET) and National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture has been approved.
Highlighting the significance of agricultural extension support to farmers, Financial Commissioner directed the Chief Agriculture Officers of various districts to provide vital and timely information to farmers for optimal crop yield and returns. It is imperative to redeploy the extension agents working in the field to make optimal use of available human resource, said Mr. Jain.Expressing concern over the shrinking of cultivable land, Jain said that drastic measures need to be put in place so that deficiency in agricultural production is checked. He said need of the hour warrants that all the stakeholders should seriously deliberate and discuss the issues related to conversion of agricultural land for other uses, which will have serious repercussions in future if preventive measures were not taken. He called for a healthy debate on the issue across the State.