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| JK fails to implement agriculture policy | | | Ishtiyaq Ahmad
Early Times Report
Srinagar, Feb 2 : Jammu and Kashmir is yet to implement the 'agriculture policy' that will actualize the vast untapped growth potential of this sector despite 60 percent population of the state being directly or indirectly dependent on the agriculture sector.
Several states have implemented the agriculture policy to increase production and productivity of the crops and to enable farmers to diversify their crop production so as to take advantage of market opportunities.
However, the government has failed to implement the effective agriculture policy in the state that will lay down long term road map for improvisation of agriculture sector.
"The agriculture policy has been confined to papers only without being implemented on the ground. Although majority of population are directly or indirectly dependent on the sector but government has been least interested in implementing the agriculture policy," the official said.
Officials sources said a draft of agriculture policy was framed but authorities were not bothered to ensure its implementation resulting there has been decline in agriculture production.
The policy was framed to actualize the vast untapped growth potential of the agriculture, promote value addition, accelerate the growth of agri-business, and create employment in rural areas. The farmers said they have raised the issue with the government several times to implement the agriculture policy in the state, but to no avail. "Only assurances have been given to the farmers by the authorities that agriculture policy will be implemented but no such efforts have been made on the ground," said Ghulam Mohammad, a farmer of Anantnag. Officials said without agriculture policy, the state was unable to take advantage of several centrally sponsored schemes that would have been beneficial to boost agriculture crops by introducing high breed seeds, inputs on subsidy rates besides technical knowhow to state`s farmers.
Kashmir's economy is highly dependent on agriculture, supporting over 60 percent of its population. Officials said the agriculture policy would have helped in educating the farmers about the latest technology that is being used in developed world.
The provisions of J&K Land Revenue Act 1996 prohibit the conversion of paddy or vegetable land into any other use. The construction of residential and commercial buildings on agricultural land is violation of the master plan is believed another reason for decline in agriculture production.
A senior official of agriculture department said the government was in the process in implementing effective agriculture policy. |
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