Jammu, Feb 19: Underlining the importance of self-reliance in agriculture production, Chief Minister,   Omar Abdullah Friday said that the economic welfare and prosperity of the State is largely dependent on the growth and development of the agriculture and allied sectors.
Addressing a function, after inaugurating Library Block and Farmers Hostel of SKUAST, Jammu at R S Pura and Chatha,   Omar said that though Jammu and Kashmir figures as highest consumer State of mutton, chicken and eggs besides rice and wheat, yet it depicts big gap between production and import levels.
Describing Agriculture Production Department, SKUAST and Kissan Welfare Board as the three sides of triangle of self-sufficiency,   Omar said that all the three organizations have to play their vital role to bridge the gap between the production and the imports of essentials food commodities.
He said a strategy is required to be put in by these jointly for increasing the per unit production and productivity. “This can be helped by utilizing modern farm practices and high yielding seed varieties”, he said adding that the advancement of farm technology has not shown its convincing impact on the agriculture practices on ground in the state as yet.
 “There is greater scope for shrinking the gap between lab and land and bringing about revolutionary change in the farm practices”, he said asking the scientists and farmers to be closely associated with each other to achieve the goal. He said the degree holders and agriculture graduates, coming out from the universities, have all the more important role to play in this direction. “They should develop the temperament of getting involved in the agricultural practices as progressive farmers taking a leaf from the farming society of Punjab which comprises highly qualified and trained persons”, he said adding that in Punjab the young, dynamic and highly qualified youth who could have easily got jobs in Government or corporate sector have decided to be the progressive farmers. “Their, this temperament has catapulted Punjab’s agricultural practices”, he said.
Assuring all support from his Government in bringing about a revolution in agriculture production in the State,   Omar said that he is looking for the day when the CAPD Minister from the State has not to request the Centre for enhancing food grain quota but the State instead relies on its own produce. “This is a big challenge and we have to take on it with commitment and missionary zeal”, he said adding that those states which flagged agriculture as priority sector and put in efforts for its growth have achieved outstanding results.
Addressing the function, the Minister for Agriculture,   Ghulam Hassan Mir lauded the Chief Minister for his keen interest in the development of agriculture and allied sectors in the State. He said during his association with the Chief Minister, as his cabinet colleague, he has found   Omar as an energetic young and dynamic leader with all experience of handling the most important issues with full confidence and ample experience. “This I believe is because he has held the important Ministries at the Central for five years and represented Jammu and Kashmir in Parliament for a long time in his comparatively more younger age”, he added.
  Mir called for bringing a new change in the practice of imparting higher education and expertise in the universities like SKUAST. “While giving professional trainings and education, we have to also create a mindset in the passing out graduates that would not allow them to waste their time waiting for Government jobs but make them professionally so confident that soon coming out of universities they will enthusiastically start their ventures in the fields they have gained the expertise”, he stressed.

Lastupdate on : Fri, 19 Feb 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Fri, 19 Feb 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sat, 20 Feb 2010 00:00:00 IST