District Development Commissioner Kupwara, Khalid Jahangir today chaired a NABARD meeting under Tribal Development Fund (TDF), Rural Haat and Farmer Producer Organisation in the Meeting Hall of DC Office Complex.The meeting was informed that Kupwara with a total population of 870345 has 87% rural people living in rural areas with 70351 belonging to Scheduled Tribes and 103087 from Pahari community. It was given out that the basic elements of TDF include central focus on *WADI*, which means a small orchard with multiple crops, staggered income through plantation of orchards, family-based approach towards development, community ownership of the project, institutional buildings by the formation of cooperatives and producer organizations.The key concern of NABARD has been the sustainability of tribal livelihoods through the implementation of TDF in the district, said CGM NABARD.The representatives of NABARD while explaining the nature of support mentioned that fund support is need-based, location specific and flexible. The project implementing agency will provide the DPR after a prior survey of the villages and finally, funding will be done by way of grant and loan as found appropriate.
DDC Kupwara Khalid Jahangir emphasized the need to strengthen farmer producer organisations towards increasing scale of operations, improving access to markets, enhancing bargaining power and a better understanding of services. For this, he suggested the role of KVKs, agricultural universities, NGOs, Cooperative Societies, Corporates, banks and financial institutions.DDC urged all the concerned departments to ensure coordination and unity of purpose for realizing the benefits of the TDF so that farmers and all those associated are assured better returns. He instructed the concerned to pursue intense awareness for educating the people of Kupwara about the schemes offered by NABARD and initiate the process of registration of beneficiaries at an earliest. He emphasized for framing programmes towards promoting locally available products like walnut and honey.The meeting was attended by CGM NABARD, JD Planning, CEO, ACD, CMO, CAO, CAHO, Sheep Husbandry Officer and representatives of other concerned departments.