In order to bridge the gap between banking institutions and farming community, the District Development Commissioner (DDC) Budgam, Akshay Labroo today presided over Bankers Seminar for Credit in Agriculture and allied sectors at Sheikh ul ALam Hall DC Office, here.
A large number of participants, bankers, FPOs, progressive farmers, District heads of Agriculture production department, besides Lead District Manager & Cluster Head J&K Bank were present in the seminar.The event was also attended by Joint Director Agriculture Department Kashmir Tabassum Naz who was representing the Visiting Officer for the Seminar.
During the programme, a detailed discussion was held through a powerpoint presentation delivered by DDM NABARD, Junaid Hakeem on various issues including identification of beneficiaries, flow of credit for farmers under Holistic Development Agriculture Programme (HADP), assistance under Government sponsored schemes (CSS/UT Capex), performances of banks under District Credit Plan (DCP), monitoring initiatives and credit plus activities.
Speaking on the occasion, the DDC said that a total of 29 projects and 47 schemes have been identified under holistic development of agriculture and allied sectors and implementation of these projects/schemes would not only energize the agriculture sector but will also change the economic fortune of the farming.
He reiterated that for achieving the desired targets under the said sector, the bankers have an important role to play by providing hassle free credit to the farmers.To facilitate and uplift poor farmers with credit linking schemes, the DDC impressed upon the bankers to put in added efforts to make ease in credit facilities for the farmers by focusing on potential areas and stressed on better coordination between banks and Government departments .
Directions were also passed on to the District functionaries of Agriculture production department to gear up the field functionaries so that maximum number of FPOs can be formed so that maximum flow of credit can be ensured to the FPOs to boost the overall economy in agriculture and allied sectors.On the occasion, KCC smart debit cards were distributed among identified KCC holders by the DDC.
It was exhorted upon the participating bankers, departmental employees that processing of applications under various Govt schemes for farmers is ensured in a timely and a streamlined manner and special camps are organised in this regard.
Booklets containing necessary information for all credit schemes meant for holistic development of agriculture and allied sectors were also distributed to the bankers for their ready reference.
At the end of the event, Chief Animal Husbandry officer, District Nodal Officer Kisan Sampark Abhiyan sensitised the participants about seriousness of Government towards transforming the agriculture economy of J&K by putting it on a new trajectory of growth, doubling the output of the agri and allied sectors, boosting exports and making the farming sustainable and commercially viable.