DDC Anantnag reviews implementation of AIF, FPO

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Anantnag , 04 Mar 2021

Last updated on: Mar 04, 2021, 00:00 IST

The District Development Commissioner (DDC) Anantnag, Anshul Garg today convened a meeting of the District Level Monitoring Committee (DLSC) to review implementation of Farmers Producer Organization (FPO) and Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF) Scheme (part of Atma Nirbhar Package) at DC office, here.DDM NABARD, Rouf Zargar, who is also the Member Secretary of DMC, apprised the chair about the approval of 04 blocks in district by Ministry of Agriculture Government of India under FPO Scheme.He informed that NABARD and National Cooperative Development Corporation as implementing agencies have been allotted 02 blocks each. The products specified for FPO formation are vegetables, honey and walnut.He said that both the schemes have the potential to revolutionize the agricultural sector in J&K by instilling the cooperative and business sense in farmers besides their proper hand holding.The DDC directed the concerned officers to identify and handhold the FPOs in various other crops and products such as mushroom, almond, pulses, dairy etc to tap the full potential of agriculture and allied sectors.He impressed upon them to establish FPOs in each block and press for organic agricultural production in consultation with institutions like NABARD, APEDA and SKUAST.The meeting was also informed about the central scheme Agri Infrastructure Fund (AIF) which has an allocation of 900 cr for J&K. It was given out that AIF scheme would focus on establishing post harvest management projects wherein an interest subvention of 3 percent could be availed up to a limit of Rs 2 crore for a period of 7 years.It was also divulged that no collateral has to be given by the applicant besides the loans would be covered under credit guarantee coverage to be borne by the central government.The chair invited suggestions from all the officers to identify the sectors and areas where these schemes could prove successful. Threadbare discussions were held on their smooth utilization in light of the landscape, topography, land availability, etc of various areas of the district.The meeting was attended by ACD, CAO, CHO, CAHO, AD Fisheries, AD Planning and other members of the DMC.