Determined to translate benefits of growth into farmers’ financial security: LG
STATE TIMES NEWS
SRINAGAR: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Tuesday asserted that the government is determined to translate the benefits of growth into the financial security of farmers, the Lt Governor said.
“Transformation in the agriculture and allied sector is not just about productivity but also about food security, empowerment of farmers and prosperity of small farming families”, the Lieutenant Governor said while addressing the valedictory session of multi-stakeholder convention on holistic development of agriculture and allied sectors in J&K, at SKICC Srinagar.
Appreciating the organisers for the historic convention, the Lt Governor said that such efforts will deepen our understanding on critical gaps and steps required for transforming and rejuvenating the main pillar of our economy.
Deliberations among eminent agricultural scientists, policy planners, policy makers, academia and farmers will lead to the formulation of a futuristic roadmap for rapid growth in agriculture and allied sector, the Lt Governor added.
The Lt Governor noted that the UT’s agriculture and allied sector was performing much below its potential in recent years. J&K administration took several measures to reverse the declining trend by filling credit gaps, diversification, high-density plantation, building storage capacity, market linkages and extension services, he added.
Agriculture growth last year was recorded at 3.9 per cent and food processing at 11.18 per cent. However, we have a huge number of small and marginal farmers who need financial support and benefits of the central and UT schemes, and handholding to meet the challenges, observed the Lt Governor.
Noting that the allied activities contribute more than 15 per cent in total farm income, the Lt Governor said that the dairy, livestock, poultry and fisheries can become engines of high growth, and emphasized the need to make massive efforts for creating awareness amongst the farmers to tap its tremendous potential and benefit from several schemes of the centre and UT. The Lt Governor urged the high-powered committee of agricultural scientists being constituted under the chairmanship of renowned scientist, Dr. Mangala Rai, to prepare a futuristic blueprint which can be implemented in the next three years.
The Lt Governor highlighted the steps taken to exploit untapped opportunities offered by horticulture and ensuring end-to-end approach from plantation to post-harvest management and processing to marketing in order to increase the quality production and exports.
The UT Government is providing as many benefits to the agriculture sector as available to those in the manufacturing sector, like, easy access to credit, infrastructure, pre and post harvest facilities, covering risks & uncertainties and various interventions and schemes for the benefit of farmers, he added.
He also asked the NAFED to speed up the high density plantations in order to achieve the set target of 5500 hectares of high density cultivated within the stipulated time frame.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr Arun Kumar Mehta, Chief Secretary, called for working out realistic plans and making committed efforts for doubling the economy of J&K in the next five years.
Dr Mangala Rai, former DG ICAR emphasized the need to have a clear vision, adopting bottom-up approach, focusing on resource planning, policy interventions, formulating district level plans, and inviting suggestions from experts, farmers and other stakeholders as a way forward to achieve tangible results on ground.
