Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha today paid a visit to Samba district and inaugurated Krishi Vigyan Kendra building complex. He felicitated the progressive farmers who were trained by the SKUAST and are earning a sustainable livelihood, besides involving other farmers in agricultural activities.
The Lt Governor also released publications and Newsletter on agriculture sector and allied activities. Speaking on the occasion, the Lt Governor, who is also the Chancellor of SKUAST-Jammu, observed that agriculture and allied sectors are key focus areas of J&K Government and laid special emphasis on providing sustained handholding to the farmers, besides giving a determined push to these sectors.
The UT Government is taking comprehensive measures for the development and growth of priority sectors like Agriculture, Horticulture, Dairy and Poultry and is making interventions by identifying scientific and technological needs of the farming community to achieve desirable results, he added. The Lt Governor urged the scientists to take the farm technology from the lab to the fields for extending maximum benefits to the farming community.
“J&K Government is creating an institutional mechanism by leveraging available technology for the efficient delivery of various rural services, in a transparent manner and with public participation and ownership. Through KrishiVigyan Kendra, we can successfully bridge the gap of connectivity between farmers and scientific methods & technology”, said the Lt Governor.
The Lt Governor directed Divisional Commissioner Jammu to identify land for establishing KVKs in the remaining three districts of Jammu Division.
He said that the progressive farmers who were felicitated today have set an example for others, especially for the young generation to make farming & allied activities as preferred choice for a successful career. Highlighting various initiatives taken by the J&K Government, the Lt Governor said that the UT administration has signed an MoU with NAFED to bring reforms in the horticulture sector, for high density plantations, cold storage cluster, market linkage and GI tagging of local products. High Density plantation of Apple, Walnut, Cherry, Flowers etc would increase the income of farmers by 3 to 4 times, observed the Lt Governor.
NAFED will cover 5500 Hectares of land at a cost of Rs 1700 Crore in the next five years with major focus on Apple, Walnut, Cherry, Pear and other significant horticulture produce, and will set up 20 Farmer-Producer Organizations, one in each district, besides three cold storage clusters, costing Rs 500 Crore, and ensuring Geographical Indications tags (GI Tags) for all premium/niche horticulture produce, he added.
“We are working on various levels to ensure that our farmers get three to four time returns of their hard work and investment. All possible help from the administration is being assured for the benefits of farmers. With latest interventions by the government, the farm produce would be able to reach worldwide markets and for empowerment of the farmers”, the Lt Governor maintained.
Prime Minister has taken many decisions for the betterment of farmers. Many farmers’ welfare schemes like Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana, Soil Health management, Neem Coated Urea, National Food Security Mission, Rashtriya Gokul Mission, One Nation One Market and many other such schemes have been devised and their benefits are being delivered to the community directly. Efforts are being made for 100% saturation of every scheme so that the maximum beneficiaries can reap the benefits out of these schemes, the Lt Governor observed.