Rs 1840 Cr to boost Agro production, marketability

JAMMU: Asserting that the state government has taken a number of initiatives for development of Agriculture and allied sectors, Minister for Agriculture, Ghulam Nabi Lone Hanjura on Friday said that the next financial year will see further development of agriculture scenario, with focused strategy to increase production, productivity of crops and to enable farmers to take advantage of market opportunities.
The Minister said this while replying to the discussion on Demand for Grants of Agriculture Department amounting to Rs 1840.12 Crore in the Legislative Assembly, which were passed with voice vote by the House.
"New avenues are being explored for investment in the sector and a new hope among the people has been emerged with the concerted efforts of the department, which promises profitability and dignity in the agriculture as an occupation", he informed.
He announced that Mufti Mohammad Sayeed Farmers Value Enhancement Programme (MMSFVEP) will be launched soon in the state to give further boost to Agriculture Sector and will be taken up on pilot basis in one block of every district for which an allocation of Rs 22.50 crore is being proposed under CAPEX for 2018-19.
The Soil Testing Laboratories are to be revamped in all districts, he said, adding that the department had regularized 1600 REZs during the 2016-17.
While highlighting the achievements of department, the Minister said that it will shortly commission state of the Art Saffron Spice Park at Dusso (Pampur) which is fully equipped for quality control, testing and e-trading facilities, the Minister thanked Chief Minister and Finance Minister for exempting pulses from the toll tax list giving boost to the production of Pulses.
In Jammu division, under CADP, projects including at Pargwal, Udhampur, Rajouri, Kishtwar & Ramban have been taken up at a cost of Rs 90.47 crore besides and 5 new projects amounting to Rs 181.73 crores are proposed, he said.
Hanjura said that SKUAST-K has released 12 new varieties for cultivation in the State including 2 of rice, 2 maize, 2 brown sarsoon and 1 each in rajmash, chickpea, lantil, methi, coriander and soya been.
Similarly, SKUAST-J has developed an Integrated Farming System (IFS) model for small and marginal farmers for their livelihood security and doubling of farmer's income.
The department had established Rice Cluster at R S Pura and Suchetgarh in Jammu under which thrust is being given to the promotion of Indigenous Basmati Rice under participatory guarantee system for organic certification involving total cost of Rs 33.66 crore for 3 years.
On the pattern of Mushk Budji and Basmati (370), the department intends to promote revival of Zag in Karnah and Kamad rice varieties through interventional measures for up scaling their production, the Minister said.
Hanjura informed the House that Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojna is being implemented in all 10 districts of Jammu division w.e.f Kharif 2017 for the notified crops viz Paddy, Wheat, Maize and Mango.
Later, the House passed with voice vote the grants amounting to Rs 184012.16 lakhs for Agriculture and allied departments.