Jammu: Minister for Agriculture, Ghulam Nabi Lone Hanjura said innovative methods initiated by the Agriculture department would help to double farmer’s income by 2022 as envisioned by the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi.
The Minister was addressing the Agriculture officials during a function organised to distribute the vegetable seedlings raised under Naturally Ventilated Poly Green House (NVPGH) at Talab Tillo, Jammu.
Hanjura said State Government has already announced several innovative schemes for farmers with the aim to uplift their income. He said with the introduction of latest agricultural techniques and practices the farmers’ income would be doubled in the State by 2022. He said the approach recommended by agriculture experts to double the income of farmers in a given time-frame should be adopted in true spirit.
The Minister said awareness and sensitization of farmers holds key to better implementation of the welfare schemes and called upon the Agriculture department and concerned agencies to reach out to the farmers by organizing regular awareness programs. He stressed that with the changing times the focus should be on integrated and organic farming to fetch good economic returns.
He said implementation of schemes like Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY), Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bhima Yojana (PMFBY), National Adaptation Fund for Climate Change (NAFCC), Kissan Credit Cards (KCC) and focus on integrated farming will make the farming sector more lucrative.
Hanjura said several schemes for farmers initiated by the department were started to uplift their income and Government will soon launch PMFBY for farming community in valley after the scheme was successfully launched in Jammu region. He said the scheme would compensate farmers affected due to natural calamities.
The Minister said raising of vegetable seedlings will encourage the vegetable growers for shifting towards vegetable cultivation and will fetch good returns to the farmers.
The seedlings of different vegetable crops and varieties have been raised in the Naturally Ventilated poly green House established under the centrally sponsored Scheme. For the first time on trial basis about 50,000 seedlings of different vegetable crops and varieties are being raised which will be distributed among the vegetable growers of Jammu areas on no profit and no loss basis.
The Minister also inspected The HI-TECH Pasteurized Compost Making Unit of Mushroom Development Scheme being upgraded under RKVY by construction of Compost Preparing Floor and Pasteurizing Unit with all allied facilities like Tractor with front End Loader, Genset 30 MW for running the Pasturizing Unit, Boiler and Blower system. It was apprised that the Pasteurized Compost Making Unit has Capacity of producing 3500 Bags of 10 Kgs each in per cycle of 16-18 days.
On the occasion, farmers were provided with seedling trays under the Vegetable Improvement Scheme.
The Minister also felicitated two officials of the department, Ashwani Kumar Floriculture Development Assistant and Satpal Sharma, Mali for their dedicated services.
The Presidents of AJKAOWF, NGAGA and prominent persons also spoke on the occasion.
Director Agriculture Jammu H. K. Razdan, Director Command Area Development Department, Jammu S. Jatinder Singh, Joint Directors K. S. Sambyal and R. L. Bhagat, Deputy Director of Agriculture (Central), C. M. Sharma, Deputy Director Agriculture (Trainings) Sunil Koul, Chief Agriculture Officers Jammu & Samba N. K. Dubey & N. K. Mishra, Agriculture Chemist, Sh R. K. Bindroo, Agronomist Vegetables H. D. Sharma, DSSO D. K. Kuchroo besides other Senior Officers of the department were also present on the occasion.
