Agri Minister reviews functioning of SAIDC

Jammu/ April, 17: Minister for Agriculture Ghulam Nabi Lone Hanjura has underscored the need for making fresh efforts for revitalization of State Agro Industries Development Corporation (SAIDC).
“There is need to infuse new blood in the functioning of State Agro Industries Development Corporation (SAIDC) and make it more vibrant and commercial”, the Minister said while chairing a high level meeting of officers convened to review the functioning of the Corporation here Thursday.
Financial Commissioner, Agriculture Production Department, Pramod Kumar Jain, Director Finance, Director Agriculture, Jammu, Managing Director Agro Industries Development Corporation, Financial Advisor SAIDC and senior officers of allied departments were present.
The Minister said the Corporation came into existence four decades back and its aim was to promote the local agro – products which will ultimately benefit the people by changing their socio economic condition. He said the corporation was still struggling to become a profitable venture and come up to the expectations of the people.
The Minister said there is huge employment potential under Agro Industries Sector. He asked the concerned to take innovative initiatives for making the Corporation profitable. He advised that new products should be introduced for better marketing, which in turn increase the income of farming community also.
The Minister instructed the management to work in synergy and coordinated manner for the overall development of the Corporation.
The Minister was apprised that the Corporation is facing tremendous problems due to the dearth of staff as most of its employees have retired and no new appointments are being made to carry out the routine work. The Minister instructed the concerned higher ups of the Corporation to submit a proposal for requirement of the staff to the government for taking appropriate action.
It was given out in the meeting that the Corporation has earned Rs 37.27 crore during last year on sale of various Agri tools and equipments besides other products.
It was decided in the meeting that the Animal and Sheep Husbandry Departments be asked to purchase feed from the Feed Plants of the Corporation for their livestock, which would become major source for revenue generation for the Corporation.