Jammu, Jan 10: Minister for Agriculture, Ghulam Hassan Mir today asked the farmers to adopt latest agri-techniques in their fields to improve their production and returns. 
 The Minister was addressing a gathering after inaugurating a day-long sensitisation programme on “National Vegetable Initiative for Urban Clusters (NVIUC)” organised by Directorate of Agriculture, Jammu in association with Actech Agro Pvt Ltd at Zorawar Singh Auditorium, Jammu University, here this afternoon, an official statement said.
 The Minister said that the economic empowerment of the farmers of J&K has been accorded priority by the coalition government.
 He said several steps have been taken to make the agriculture a profitable activity.
 He said that the measures taken aimed to add glamour to agriculture sector by way of introduction of latest techniques, hybrid seeds and other agriculture inputs besides to provide market linkages to the farmers.
 He said there is a dire need to make the agriculture as an organised sector so that more and more investment is   made for the economic empowerment of the farmers.
 Elaborating on the vegetable initiative for urban clusters, Mir said that the main objective is to organise the farmers under one umbrella, to strengthen the economy of the producers, to facilitate them for cost effective production and to provide them marked linkage under well furnished plan.
 While referring to the challenges faced by farmers, especially vegetable growers on several fronts like production, post harvest handling, storage, transportation, marketing and distribution, Mir assured that agriculture ministry was trying to protect their interests at every moment.
 Mir said that Rs 12 crore have been sanctioned under National Vegetable Initiative for urban clusters of Jammu, out of which action plan for Rs. 6 crore is being implemented during this fiscal.
 He said the scheme was introduced in the State during 2011-12 and said that two capital cities of J&K were covered under it to provide every logistic support to the vegetable growers for strengthening their economic status, besides meeting the local demands.

Lastupdate on : Wed, 9 Jan 2013 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Wed, 9 Jan 2013 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Thu, 10 Jan 2013 00:00:00 IST