Minister for Agriculture Ghulam Nabi Lone Hanjura Friday emphasized for introducing the latest technology in all productive sectors like agriculture and sericulture aiming at increasingly the socio-economic conditions of the farming community, adding that this is the only key source to ensure prosperity of the State in general and farming community in particular.The Minister was addressing at a meeting convened to review and discuss the working and implementation of Centrally Sponsored Schemes and other miscellaneous issues of Agriculture department today.The Minister directed for organizing of awareness camps at block levels so that the maximum farmers are aware about the centrally sponsored schemes and other flagship programmes launched by the Centre and State Governments for the benefit of the farming community. He asked the officers of agriculture, sericulture and its allied sectors to redouble their efforts and gear up their field functionaries and conducted tour inspections and submits their report to the concerned quarters at the end of every month.Detailed discussions were held on Saffron Mission Project costing Rs. 400.11 Crore sanctioned for the period 2010-16. It was given out that Rs. 140.47 crore has been incurred on the project so far. The Minister directed the concerned to utilize the sanctioned funds in full and judiciously. He asked them any negligence in this regard will not be tolerated.
Mr. Hanjura also directed the concerned to come up with a proposal for extension of the project so that the same could be forwarded to the Central Government for accord of approval.Sampling of testing of seeds, pesticides and fertilizers, seed replacement, requirement and distribution of seed were also discussed in detail. It was given out that 10 Quality Control and Soil Testing Laboratories will function soon in the Valley. He also stressed for constant efforts for replacement of seeds and asked the concerned officers to educate people about the replacement of seeds. It was given out that 27900 quintals of paddy, 6800 quintals maize, 780 quintals Wheat, 29 quintal vegetable, 9165 quintal fodder, 3400 quintals pulses and 950 quintals of potato seeds distributed among the farmers during 2014-15.
Hanjura directed the concerned to impart training to the departmental officials’ at least more than one person in each sector. He also asked them to ensure testing of samples be done in a time bound manner.While deliberating on subsidy given on farm machines and other items, the Minister said that the aim of the government is to improve the living standard of the farming community and it is our prime duty to reach the benefits of all the schemes including centrally sponsored schemes to the people at grass-root level.Establishment of Mushroom Projects was also discussed and the Minister took serious note for decreasing of the said units in the valley. He directed the concerned to come up with comprehensive Action Plan proposals for establishment of Mushroom Units with the proper consultancy of the experts and submit the same to the administrative department for grant of sanction.Works undertaken under Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) and issuance of Kissan Credit Cards were also discussed. The Minister asked officers to put all details about the incentives and other facilities being provided to the farmers from time to time on public domain.Commissioner Secretary Agriculture Production Department, Mr. Mohammad Ashraf Bukhari, Director Agriculture Kashmir, Director Sericulture and other officers of Agriculture, Sericulture, Agro Corporation were present in the meeting.