Dir Agri Kashmir reviews achievements under CSS, CapEx Budget

SRINAGAR: Director Agriculture Kashmir Syed Altaf Aijaz Andrabi Tuesday chaired a review meeting of all the Divisional Officers and District Heads to discuss physical achievements under all Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS) and CapEx Budget.
The Director urged the officers to achieve the targets and ensure implementation of all the schemes in a time bound manner with transparency and accountability.
Director Agriculture took a serious note of use of spurious pesticides and fungicides by some dealers and instructed the enforcement agency to remain vigilant and increase the monitoring and inspections.
As Insecticide/Fertilizer Controller, Director Agriculture issued on spot circular to all the dealers that they should not sell their products unless there is recommendation from the Agriculture Experts, Horticulture Development Officers, Agriculture Extension Officers and Subject Matter Specialists of both Agriculture and Horticulture departments and warned the defaulters of stern action under Insecticides Act.
During the meeting, instructions were given for making Farmer Producing Organizations (FPOs) and Self Help Groups (SHGs) more effective and also register them to make them more powerful for commercializing the agriculture and making it a year round profitable venture.
The meeting reviewed Apiculture, Mushroom and Potato Development Schemes and the concerned heads were asked for time bound Physical achievements. Soil Health Cards and Revised PM-Kissan, NABARD funded Projects and progress on Geo Tagging of farm machinery were also reviewed.
The meeting was informed that One hi-tech Integrated Mushroom Development / Training Centre would be commissioned in district Baramulla during the current financial year for which an amount of Rs 2.5 crores have been earmarked.
The meeting reviewed the progress under mechanization component and issuing of farm operation tools for inspirational districts, Baramulla and Kupwara. Instructions were also passed for enlisting the farm machinery and equipments issued in private sector by various dealers to see the impact of extension technology.
It was decided that Paddy Threshers will be procured by the Department and will be placed at the disposal of Panchayat Institutions from where farmers can utilize it on demand.
All Joint Directors, Divisional Officers, Chief Agriculture Officers and other senior officers were also present during the meeting.