REASI: Dr Jitendra Singh Union Minister of State for Development of North Eastern Region (Independent Charge), Prime Minister Office, Personnel, Pubic Grievances and Pensions, Department of Atomic Energy and Department of Space, Government of India and Ajay Nanda, Minister of State for Finance and Planning, IT, Law Justice, Parliamentary Affairs, Tribal Affairs, Relief and Rehabilitation Jammu and Kashmir Government inaugurated one Day Farmers’ Fair on ‘Pradhan Mantri Fasal Beema Yojana’ at Krishi Vigyan Kendra Reasi.
All over India, Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) have been assigned the job of creating mass awareness among the farmers about the recently launched Pradhan Mantri Fasal Beema Yojana in which the rate of premium is 1.5, 2.0 and 5.0 per cent for Rabi, Kharif and Horticultural crops, respectively and other Agricultural Schemes of Goverment of India . The fair was organised to coincide with the launch of Gram Udhey se Bharat Udhey Abhiyan by the Prime Minister. About 500 farmers from different parts of Reasi district participated in the fair. An Exhibition was also organized during the event to show case the various technologies in which different department, NGOs and other private companies participated.
Speaking on this occasion Dr Jatinder Singh announced that, in order to give a push to ‘Fasal Beema Yjna scheme he would explore possibility of contributing premium amount to be paid by farmers for Fasal Beema in his constituency. He requested the farmers to avail the benefits of centrally sponsored programmes like Jan Dhan Yojana, social security programmes like accident and life insurance, Atal Pension Yojna and on ‘Pradhan Mantri Fasal Beema Yojna’.
He said that the priorities of Union Government are to take the benefits of the welfare schemes to the last person and the first right of the national resources is for the poor and farmers. He appreciated the street play (Nukad Natak) organised for conveying the message about the different welfare schemes in the most effective manner. He said the Govt. of India has earmarked Rs. 5,500 crores for Fasal Beema Yajana for current fiscal. He appreciated the role of KVKs in organising such awareness programmes efficiently.
Ajay Nanda, Minister of State, J and K Govt. in his address to the farmers acknowledge that such fairs and Nukad Nataks are the most effective way for creating awareness among the farming community so that they benefit from such schemes. He requested Dr. Jatinder Singh to take up the matter of alternative road connectivity from Jammu to Reasi via Nagrota Bamyal Tanda with Union Minister of Surface Transport Govt. of India.
The insurance companies nominated for Fasal Beema Yojana are IFFCO TOKIO, Reliance India and Agriculture Insurance Corporation of India. The companies had set up the stalls for explaining the modalities of Fasal Beema to the farmers .The programme was organised by K.V.K., Reasi, Directorate of Extension, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Jammu (SKUAST-Jammu) under the coordination of Dr. Shahid Ahamad , Sr. Scientist and Head , KVK, Reasi. Dr. K.S.Risam in his address thanked Dr. Jitendra Singh, Ajay Nanda and District administration for their support in successful organization of the fair. He also gave brief account of all centrally sponsored schemes for the benefit of farmers including Pradhan Mantri Fasal Beema Yojana. The programme was conducted by Dr. R.K. Arora, Associate Director Extension, SKUAST-Jammu. Dr. Shahid Ahamad, S.K. Gupta, Additional District Development Commissioner Reasi, officer of Agriculture and Allied departments, Dr. Banarsi Lal, Dr. Sanjay Koshal, Dr.M.S Azad were present on the occasion.