Deputy Chief Minister, Dr. Nirmal Singh today inaugurated paddy procurement centre at Dungara and Lakhri of Tehsil Billawar, Kathua. These centres were established by department of Agriculture in collaboration with FCI during Kharif 2016.Along with Dy CM, Vice Chairman state advisory board for development of Kisans Daljit singh chib was also present during inauguration of the procurement centres.Dr Singh said that these procurement centres will help the farmers in selling their produce at the rates mentioned by the Government. During this season the minimum support price for Grade A (Semi Fine) paddy is Rs. 1510/- per quintal where as the price for coarse paddy is Rs. 1470/- per quintal. He further added that farmers are integrated part of our development as they are feeding the nation and underscored the benefits of FSA and MMSFES.Emphasizing on various development projects, Dy CM stated that 21 new roads under PMGSY are sanctioned for Billawar along with bridge costing Rs. 46 crore at Juthana besides a critical care ambulance for meeting medical exigency and an indoor stadium at an estimated cost of Rs. 4 crore. He further added that repair work of agriculture store at Dungara will be done from his CDF and sanctioned Rs. 1.5 lakhs for this repair. He also informed that infrastructure for PDD and PHE will be strengthened within a short span of time to provide better facilities to the people and development schemes will be devised by keeping in mind the demands of the people. Sufficient funds under MGNREGS for development and clearing liabilities will be provided soon, added Dr Singh.
Nirmal Singh also laid thrust on highlighting various schemes specially meant for farmers like PM Krishi Yojana and crop insurance scheme besides numerous other welfare schemes. He also added that during this season amount after selling the produce will be directly credited to the bank accounts of the farmers.Speaking on the occasion, Daljit Singh Chib said that government opened 2 procurement centres at Billawar to impart better facilities to the farmers and negating the role of middle men who usually buy the produce of the farmers at low cost causing misery to the family. These procurement centres will enthuse competition among private millers to give maximum rate to farmers by adopting fair practices hence benefitting the community at large.He said that new procurement policy is farmer friendly and gives easy access to the Government established procurement Centers at a very close distance. He said that our State has successfully introduced the mechanism of procurement so that farmers can be encouraged to carry on with the agriculture activities and get maximum returns due to pro farmer policies of the Government. He further informed that from next year the State Government will start procuring Maize also so that farmers of far flung and hilly areas be given maximum benefit. He also motivated the farmers to venture into the activities of Horticulture and Sericulture as the area has lot of potential in these fields.Earlier the officers of Agriculture department apprised the Dy CM of various activities carried by them vis a vis distribution of seed on time, precautions taken while sending their yield to procurement centre and how to protect the crop from pests/diseases.Joint Director Agriculture (Input) Jatinder Sharma , ADC Kathua Dr Bharat Bhushan, SSP Pawan Parihar, GM FCI Kishore Kumar , SDM Billawar Rajesh Basotra , Tehsildar Billawar, SDAO Billawar ,CAO Kathua and other district and sub division level officers were present.