Additional Chief Secretary (ACS), Agriculture Production Department, Atal Dulloo chaired a meeting with officers of Agriculture Department here at Directorate of Agriculture Production & Farmers Welfare, Talab Tillo today.
The ACS reviewed individual progress of Chief Agriculture Officers (CAOs) of all districts of Jammu division. They were asked to furnish information about the initiatives taken by them for promoting integrated farming.
The CAOs were asked to submit concrete steps for encouraging crop diversification, particularly with respect to medicinal plants, oilseeds, apiculture and vegetables, in their respective districts. They were also asked to submit status of success achieved in protected farm activities and ways to increase it.
A PowerPoint presentation containing information about changing agriculture scenario and statistics about cultivated land was given to the ACS. He was apprised about the climatic zones, farm mechanisation status, newly introduced crop varieties and other online services.
Atal Dulloo was presented status of benefits delivered under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Maandhan Yojna (PMKMY), Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maan-dhan (PM-SYM), e-SHRAM and other welfare schemes to the farmers of Jammu division.
The officers were directed to increase registrations under Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) and to ensure that the 12th instalment under PM KISAN is delivered to the farmers.The ACS also took review of organic farming in Jammu region and the status of its certified clusters.
He urged that the officers build trust and credibility by maintaining constant contact with farmers and by providing them timely grievance redressal.It was stressed by the ACS that the department increase agriculture extension activities.
The officers were also informed that the department would strategise zone-wise agriculture activities in collaboration with SKUAST-J for rain-fed and kandi areas of Jammu. They were instructed to seek proposals under the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund.
He informed the officials regarding the upcoming Digital Agriculture Mission and also asked to provide National Horticulture Board subsidies to farmers.Joint Director Farms was instructed by the ACS to spearhead farm activities while making optimum use of its manpower.
Earlier, the ACS inspected facilities including incubation rooms, Spawn Lab, Mushroom Incubation Room and Pesticide Testing Lab within the campus.Those present at the meeting include Director Agriculture Jammu, KK Sharma; Joint Director Agriculture (Inputs), AS Reen; Joint Director (Farms); Joint Director (Marketing) among Chief Agriculture Officers and other officials of the department.