Advisory Board hosts Kisan Sammelan, Speakers give valuable suggestions to boost farming sectors

Jammu : The J&K Advisory Board for Development of Kisans (JKABDK) organised a one day Kisan Sammelan, here Friday
Secretary chaired the Sammelan attended by all Board members of Jammu Division, Progressive farmers and Heads of Agriculture and allied departments.
The Secretary greeted the farmers and government functionaries for attending the Kisan Sammelan. He said that the Kissan Advisory Board is acting as a Bridge and the Board members play an important role in educating and providing guidance to the unemployed Entrepreneurs. He encouraged the farmers to take full advantage of the 29 HADP and Central Sponsored Schemes which are being implemented in J&K.
Director Horticulture Department Jammu Gul Syed elaborated the HADP Schemes being implemented in the Jammu Division. He said that JKCIP (Competitiveness improvement of Agriculture and Allied Sectors Project in Jammu & Kashmir Portal is associated with the Kisan KhidmatGhar(KKG). It serves as a hub for promoting sustainable Agriculture, boosting the rural economy.
Encouraging the farmers to avail government schemes, he said “We have enough Root Stock Bank available with the Department. There is also provision of subsidy for rejuvenation of old Orchards.” He further informed that the department of Horticulture is providing Solar Controlled System on subsidy to tackle the Monkey Menace, a big problem faced by the farmers of Jammu. “The Department is also providing subsidies for Poly Green Houses and food processing units,” he informed.
In his address, Director Agriculture Jammu Anil Gupta listed varied initiatives launched to benefit the farmers. He said the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP) meeting was held in SKUAST the other day, where it made some highly encouraging decisions for the farmers of Jammu and Kashmir. “Presently there are 24 Procurement Centres in Jammu Division and the Department has procured all time high 4.98 Lakh quintals of Paddy from three Districts of Jammu, Samba & Kathua, involving around Rs 118 Crore. “Now Mushroom cultivation is being carried out round the year and Districts of Doda and Kishtwar have recorded all time high production of the Guchhi,” he informed. He said that pure Honey, Rajmash and Kaladi have got GI Tagging which proves that the Department of Agriculture is vigorously promoting organic revolution in Jammu and Kashmir.
Director Sheep Husbandry Department Jammu Dr. Syed Moin-Ul-Haq gave brief information about the Schemes of the Department. He urged Board members to encourage the farmers having 42 kanal land holding or leased land for rearing 500 sheep on 50% subsidy basis. “To enhance their income, the farmers can also establish the shearing units,” he said.
Deputy Director Animal Husbandry said that HADP and CAPEX Schemes have revolutionized the dairy sector. “Way back, Jammu Division was a Milk deficit region, but due to drastic increase in Dairy Units it is now self Sufficient,” he informed and added that farmers are getting the best breed of Cows and Buffaloes, which is the main reason for self-sufficiency in Milk and other dairy Products.
Board Member J.L. Sharma pitched for augmentation of irrigation facilities in Kandi areas to bring maximum land area under cultivation. He suggested constituting a Committee to take some measures to recommend measures to make the entire Kandi land Cultivable. He demanded for recharging of the Ranbir Canal on the 1st of March so that farmers will get irrigation water timely.
Another Board Member Tajinder Singh welcomed the significant increase in crop production in Jammu and Kashmir. However, he called for making sure that the subsidy on account of different schemes reaches the genuine farmers. He gave some examples and demanded that these need to be verified.
Dr. Bharti, another Board Member said that chicks and food grains are being imported from other states at higher rates which is leading to the huge losses to the poultry farmers, while Punjab Singh (Board Member) called for increasing the insurance cover for dairy animals. “I am running a Dairy farm of more than 100 cows, but the Government Scheme provides insurance cover to only two animals,” he noted and appealed for modification to boost the Dairy farming.
Kulbushan Khajuria, Board Member called for rationalization of power fare. “All the farmers have installed Bore well water pumps which are being used for only two months but the Electrical department is charging rent for the whole year which should be waived off,” he demanded.
Balbir Kour, Board Member called for proper check on sale of fertilizers by the Enforcement wing of Agriculture Department. She said that the Government should give compensation in due time to the farmers whose crops got damaged due to heavy rains.
At the end, the Secretary thanked all the Board members, Directors of Agriculture and Allied departments and progressive farmers for their participation in this Kisan Sammelan.