JAMMU: The Government today decided to set up a high powered committee of officers to study the issue of granting industry status to agriculture, horticulture and allied farm activities. The committee, headed by Commissioner-Secretary, Industries & Commerce, would have members from Departments of Agriculture, Horticulture, Floriculture, Fisheries, Animal & Sheep Husbandry, Dairy, Agro, horticulture extension etc. and it would submit its report within a months time.
The decision was taken at an inter-ministerial meeting held today with Minister for Agriculture, Mr. Ghulam Hassan Mir in chair.
Minister for Horticulture, Floriculture & Culture, Mr. Raman Bhalla and Minister of State for Animal & Sheep Husbandry, Mr. Nazir Gurezi were present in the meeting.
The meeting decided to look into the issues of incentives being given to these farm activities currently and the benefits or negatives it would incur after getting industry status. The committee has been asked to undertake a comparative study of the incentives given to agriculture and allied activities with or without giving it the status of industry.
Addressing the meeting, Mr. Mir underscored the importance of such an exercise so that best of the benefits are given to farming community. He enumerated the incentives being given to agriculture at present to persuade more and more people to adopt farming as a gainful activity. He suggested integration of all the incentives available to these activities.
In his observations, Mr. Bhalla said the committee would look into how best the farmers and growers are benefitted by the government. He also gave details of incentives given to horticulture activities in the State.
Mr. Nazir brought to fore the granting of industry status to poultry in the State and its subsequent withdrawal. He also sought an analysis on the expansion and economic status of this sector with the granting and subsequent withdrawal of industry status.
Commissioner-Secretary, Agriculture, Dr. Asgar Samoon, Commissioner-Secretary, Industries & Commerce, Mr. Farooq Ahmad Facktoo, Directors of Agriculture, Horticulture, Sericulture, MD, Agro, Mr. Abdul Majeed Bhat, MD, SIDCO, Mr. Moazzam and other officers attended the meeting.
