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| Kashmir orchardists seek GoI's intervention | | `Save us from mafia ruling agriculture sector' | |
Javaid Naikoo
Early Times Report
Srinagar, Mar 11: As Central Government is all set to introduce various schemes to boost the agriculture sector of the country including Jammu and Kashmir which includes long cherished Cold Storage system, Soil testing labs and technical know how to farmers, Orchardists fed up with mafia ruling Agriculture sector have sought intervention of central government to save sinking fruit industry of Kashmir division.
The central government during its ongoing review in Lok Sabha session of Parliament said that government is all set to establish new food processing industries and cold storages/cold chains which aims at providing integrated and complete cold chain and preservation facilities without any break from the farm gate to the consumer with admissible grant for Cold Chain project in the form of grant-in-aid @ 50% the total cost of plant, machinery and technical civil works in general areas and 75% for difficult areas, North-East States including Sikkim and J&K subject to a maximum of Rs 10 Crore.
The Minister of State for Food Processing Industries, Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti said that Department of Agriculture & Cooperation is implementing Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) for development of Horticulture in the country which includes assistance for creation of post-harvest infrastructure including establishment of cold storage, processing units, pack houses, pre-cooling units, controlled atmosphere storage, reefer vans and setting up of ripening chambers. Government has established the National Centre for Cold-chain Development (NCCD). NCCD provides technical guidance, conducts knowledge dissemination activities and addresses industry concerns on development matters. To promote setting up of new food processing units as well as technological up-gradation and expansion of existing food processing units in the country, a Central Sector Scheme of Technology Up-gradation/Establishment/Modernisation of Food Processing Industries is being implemented by Ministry of Food Processing Industries. The scheme envisages financial assistance @ 25% of the cost of Plant & machinery and technical civil works, subject to a maximum of Rs. 50 lakhs in general areas, @33.33% of the cost of Plant & machinery and technical civil works, subject to a maximum of Rs. 75 lakhs in difficult areas (i.e. Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Andaman & Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep) and Integrated Tribal Development Project (ITDP) areas and @50% of the cost of Plant & machinery and technical civil works, subject to a maximum of Rs. 100 lakhs for North-Eastern States including Sikkim.
At a time when according to fruit growers of some noted fruit yielding areas of Kashmir Like Baramullah, Sopore in North Kashmir and Shopian, Kulgam and Anantnag in South Kashmir,fruit industry is going through a worst phase in its history due to prevailing Mafia System ruling the concerned department Directly and indirectly which primarily includes unrestrained supply of Substandard pesticides and Fertilizers in Markets without any check and Balance from concerned Department, they don't have any hopes to enjoy fourfold schemes of central government in Kashmir.
"Fruit growers have reached to stage of begging and Distributors of Pesticides and Fertilizers enjoying political patronage have turned money lenders within nights due to unrestrained dealing of substandard pesticides and fertilizers in Kashmir, only direct intervention of central government can save this shaking fruit industry."Said President Fruit Growers Association Shopian, Mushtaq Ahmad Malik Pertinently the central government also said that Nutrient Based Subsidy (NBS) Policy is being implemented w.e.f. 1.4.2010 by the Department of Fertilizers and under the said policy, a fixed amount of subsidy decided on annual basis, is provided on each grade of subsidized Phosphatic & Potassic (P&K) fertilizers depending on its Nutrient Content and benefits accruing to the farmers include P&K fertilizers would be made available to farmers in adequate quantities, more grades of P&K fertilizers have been brought under the purview of the NBS Scheme, giving the farmers wider choice to use complex fertilizer grades,to improve fertility of soil and promote sustainable agriculture in the county, new schemes include: Soil Health Management (SHM) programme under National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA) which assists State Governments in Setting up of static/mobile soil testing laboratories (STLs), Strengthening of static/mobile STLs, Training and demonstrations on balanced use of fertilizers. Introduction of soil health card which will provide information to farmer about Soil Health status and under SHM Programme, during the current year, 9 new static Soil Testing Laboratories (STLs), 56 new mobile STLs, strengthening of 2 STLs have been sanctioned to States, apart from 354 training and 420 demonstrations. |
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