STATE TIMES NEWS
AKHNOOR: Deputy Chief Minister, Dr Nirmal Singh on Tuesday called upon the farmers to make use of technological advancements in the field of agriculture to boost productivity.
Expressing concern over shrinking agriculture land due to urbanisation, the Deputy CM said the government has launched various schemes for the benefit of farmers, besides providing loans and subsidies on various agricultural tools and allied equipments to encourage the farming community.
The Deputy CM said this while addressing a gathering of progressive farmers during one-day Kisan Mela-cum-Exhibition being organised by J and K State Advisory Board for Development of Kisans at Govt Higher Secondary School, Jourian in Akhnoor.
Vice Chairman, Kisan Advisory Board Daljit Singh Chib, MLA Akhnoor Rajeev Sharma, MLA Chhamb Dr Krishan Lal Bhagat, MLC Ajatshatru Singh, MLC Ramesh Arora, Secretary, Kisan Advisory Board G.N Mir, Director Agriculture, Jammu A K Malhotra, Director Urban Local Bodies Soujanya Sharma, Chief Agriculture Officer, Jammu R L Bhagat, Director Horticulture, Jammu Bhawani Rakwal, senior officers of various concerned departments, Panchs, Sarpanchs and farmers were present in the Kisan Mela.
While addressing the gathering, the Deputy CM said the government is working relentlessly to realise the vision of PM Narendra Modi of doubling the income of farmers by 2022. Dr Singh asked the farming community to come forward and avail benefit of Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana (PMKSY), Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY), Soil Health Cards, National Mission for Agriculture Extension & Technology (NMAET-ATMA) and other centrally sponsored schemes. The farmers should make use of high quality seeds, urea, fertilizers and pesticides, besides taking up bee-keeping, mushroom cultivation and animal rearing for enhancing their income.
The Deputy CM inspected various stalls set up by the Floriculture, Sericulture, Horticulture, Sheep Husbandry and Department of Fisheries, besides Seed Testing Laboratory, Semen Processing Laboratory and J and K Entrepreneurship Development Institute which were displayed to induce competitive spirit in the farming community.
