Additional Chief Secretary (ACS), Agriculture Production Department (APD), Atal Dulloo, chaired a meeting to review status of Farmers Producers Organizations (FPOs) of Jammu division at Civil Secretariat here today.The FPOs present in the meeting are involved with products like ginger, mushroom, honey, vegetables, mustard, spices, walnut, garlic, turmeric etc.
Senior officers of funding agencies including NABARD, NCDC, SFAC and NAFED were also present in the meeting.The ACS met with CEOs of the FPOs who shared their experiences and issues with him during the meeting. He also spoke with representatives of their respective Cluster Based Business Organizations (CBBOs).
ACS directed the CBBOs to further increase their field activities including regular meetings with farmers besides ensuring other mobilization efforts. He called upon them to enhance handholding initiatives to encourage maximum participation of farmers in these organizations.
He emphasized upon the concerned officials for raising awareness among the farmers besides instructing the stakeholders to conduct training for the FPOs.Atal Dulloo asked for building trust among the farming community regarding the significance and need of forming and promoting FPOs. He also directed the CBBOs to increase their field work and presence among the targeted community.
The meeting was also attended by Director, Animal Husbandry, Krishal Lal, Director Agriculture, Jammu, K K Sharma, Director, Horticulture, Jammu, Ram Sevak, Director, Horticulture Planning and Marketing, Vikas Sharma, MD J&K Agro Industries Development Corporation, Arun Manhas, DGM NABARD, Anamika and senior officers from SKUAST Jammu.