Srinagar- The Union Territory Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha on Wednesday directed the agriculture production department to establish 2000 Kisan Khidmat Centres on priority for handholding and clusterization and linking all farmers to institutional credit
Sinha passed these directions while chairing a high-level meeting at Civil Secretariat here to review performance of the department and progress made in agriculture, allied sector and flagship scheme of Holistic Agriculture Development Programme (HADP).
“Timely and hassle-free credit to small and marginal farmers would play an important role in increasing production,” he added.
Highlighting the important role SKUAST-Jammu and SKUAST-Kashmir in conceptualizing HAD programme, the LG said the continued support of two Universities in implementation of 29 projects should be ensured.
He further directed to extend the Daksh Kisan module to colleges to inform budding entrepreneurs about scope and opportunities in agri-business.
“The High Density Plantation Scheme has been extended to 13 Crops now. The farmers should be provided with guidance and support to chart out a new course and reap the benefits of technology extension, better infrastructure and improved marketing facilities,” he added.
The LG congratulated the officials and all stakeholders generating overwhelming response from farmers across the UT for the ongoing Kisan Sampark Abhiyan.
He directed for impact assessment of Kisan Sampark Abhiyan and exploring the possibility to extend the drive beyond August so that maximum farmers are covered and maximum utilization of schemes under HADP is ensured.
He further added that the 29 interventions of HADP focuses on quality, productivity and efficiency in Agriculture and Allied Sectors.
“Our sustained efforts can propel subsistence agriculture to sustainable commercial agri-economy and mitigate the challenges faced by the farming community. It should be our collective endeavour to provide effective IT support for monitoring of HADP’s project implementation,” he said.
Sinha impressed upon the officials for dedicated IT teams to bridge the knowledge deficit, improve the reach and strengthen the inter-sectoral approach for effective implementation.
Issuing instructions for using Common Service Centres as learning facilities for youth and directed for monitoring every step of HADP by constituting a dedicated and exclusive IT team with the required technical support, the LG also passed directions to banks to monitor credit disbursal at the highest level.
He called for increasing the reach of YouTube channels and to publicise the mobile applications on App download stores and also streamlining Daksh Kisan for hybrid skilling of farmers.
The LG also took appraisal of the different schemes, initiatives, achievements of the Agriculture Production Department and the progress on the training, orientation, and onboarding and Skilling programs for farmers under HADP.
The meeting, at Civil Secretariat, was attended by Dr Arun Kumar Mehta, LG’s Principal Secretary Dr Mandeep Kumar Bhandari, Chief Secretary Dr Arun Kumar Mehta, Administrative Secretary, Agriculture Production Department (Addl. Charge) Shailendra Kumar, Principal Secretary, Finance Department Santosh D Vaidya, MD & CEO J&K Bank Baldev Prakash, Vice Chancellor SKUAST Kashmir Dr Nazir A Ganai and other senior officers attended the meeting.
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