STATE TIMES NEWS
Samba: Imamdin, Director Horticulture Planning and Marketing, on Monday visited Tapyal block Gaghwal in Samba district to interact with farmers about various Centrally Sponsored Schemes, Cold Storage, PMFME- ODOP, Operation Green, Direct Marketing, value addition, Grading, packing, branding & marketing.
Farmers were exhorted to take benefits of a number of schemes launched by Government of India for upliftment of farmers/ growers. Recently, Operation Green has been launched in Samba district for giving 50 percent transport subsidy to growers of ladyfinger, carrot and radish. Growers of these crops can even claim 50 percent cost of storage upto three months.
Speaking about Prime Minister Formalization of Micro Food Processing Enterprises Scheme under one district one product, Director Horticulture Planning and Marketing informed that beneficiaries shall be provided with all required technical know-how, Training, 35% credit linked subsidy, easy bank financing without any security upto Rs. 10 lakh, packaging, branding and marketing linkages for primary and secondary processing of mushroom. Farmers were asked to go for value addition of their produce to enhance their income multi time. Regarding infrastructure facilities at Apni Mandi Tapyal, Imamdin informed that the same shall shortly be provided as the project for funding is already under pipeline.
Chairman BDC Gaghwal Vijay Tagotra appreciated efforts being put in by all departments of Agriculture Department under the leadership of Navin Chowdhury Principal Secretary to Government Department of Agriculture. He exhorted local farmers to come forward to take benefits all initiatives being taken by the Prime Minister to enhance income of farmers’ community which is spine of the community. Nahid Mir Deputy Director Jammu, Tehsin Chib Assistant Director, Avinash Singh Chairman Advisory Committee Apni Mandi Tapyal, Salesh Kumar District Development Manager NABARD, Ajoy Koul District Lead Bank Manager Samba, Dr Neerja Senior Scientist KVK Samba, Sandeep Singh BPM SRLM Samba and other officers of the department also addressed the farmers. Vote of thanks were presented by Priya Sharma AMO Jammu Samba. Awards for honour were presented for adopting good practices in value addition & branding to Prashant Charak from Bassi Kalan and Champa Devi Jasrotia from Gaghwal.
AGMO Samba Anuj Verma apprised about functioning of the Apni Mandi Tapyal alongwith existing issues and requirements for enhancement of Mandi and his efforts in food processing and value addition and support to local farmers were also aprreciated by the worthy Director HPM.
