RAJOURI: Stating that latest Agri-technique has revolutionized the farm sector globally, the Minister for Agriculture, Ghulam Hassan Mir, stressed upon the farmers to introduce farm mechanization in their fields to have enhanced quality agriculture produce in the state.
The Minister was addressing at a one-day Kissan Mela Awareness Camp at Kalakote-Rajouri here today. The camp was organized by Department of Agriculture in collaboration with Kissan Advisory Board.
Mir asked the farmers to avail the benefits of flagship schemes of Agriculture Department which have been launched by the government for benefit of farmers community. He said the agriculture sector, being the priority sector for the coalition government, has witnessed of notable improvement in the benefit of farmers have enhanced the agriculture production during last three and a half years.
He said that government is giving subsidy to the farmers for introducing farm mechanization for which Kissan Melas and Machinery Melas are being organized at block level across the state to provide awareness and agriculture machinery items at their doorsteps.
Referring to streamlining of agriculture inputs in the state, the Minister said that fertilizers, seeds and other agriculture facilities are being provided to the farmers round the year without any delay. He said steps are being taken to further streamline the distribution system so that the farmers may get fertilizer and other agriculture inputs timely.
He said directions have been passed to the concerned officers across the state to ensure frequent field visits to their respective areas for redressing the issues of farmers at the earliest.
Asking the farmers to make a shift from chemical fertilizer to bio-fertilizer, the Minister said that trend has changed across the globe to utilize bio-fertilizer instead of chemical fertilizer for consumers safety. In this direction, the J&K state has also launched a scheme for setting up of vermin compost units for production of bio-fertilizer. He said for which government is providing Rs. 30,000 subsidies to the farmers per unit.
Responding to the demands of the farmers, the Minister announced that hybrid maize seed would be provided to the farmers on 50% subsidy for the Rajouri district. He also announced that low cost vermin compost units would also be provided to the Kalakote block on priority basis to bring this area under organic farming. He said the directions have been passed to Krishi Vidhyan Kendra (KVK) Rajouri and Agriculture Officers to work together for boosting the Mushroom and Api culture in the area as Kalakote is feasible for both the products. He further said that KVK has also been asked to focus on women empowerment programmes in which local girls would be trained in skill development programmes.
Saying that the bivolitine cocoon of Kalakote has tremendous potential, the Minister asked the cocoon rearers to plant more and more sericulture plants in their areas for which the department is providing Rs. 5000 for plantation of 300 saplings. He said the department also provides Rs. 75,000 for construction of rearing sheds.
Vice Chairman, Kissan Advisory Board, Rashpal Singh highlighted the objective of Kissan Welfare Board and said it acts as a bridge between farmers and the government. Rattan Lal Gupta and various progressive farmers also spoke on the occasion.
Director Agriculture, Jammu, Ajay Khajuria, Deputy Commissioner, Rajouri, Director Sericulture and other senior officers of agriculture department were present on the occasion.
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