 EARLY TIMES REPORT
JAMMU, Dec 25: Prime Minister, Narendra Modi today disbursed Rs 18000 Crore as next instalment under PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi, benefitting 9 Crore Farmer families, directly into their bank accounts at the click of a button.
“Ever since this scheme started, more than 1 lakh 10 thousand crore Rupees have reached the account of farmers”, said the Prime Minister.
To mark the occasion, a programme was held simultaneously here at Kisan Kendra, Jammu where the Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha addressed the Farmers.
The Lt Governor observed that the farmers of Jammu and Kashmir have been provided with financial assistance worth around Rs 1132 crore under the scheme. He outlined that the welfare of the Farmers and betterment of their livelihood is the prime focus of the Union as well as UT Government.
The UT Government has taken comprehensive measures for the development of the Agriculture and allied sectors in J&K. 100% coverage under PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi has been ensured in J&K so that no beneficiary is left behind in availing the benefits of the scheme, he added.
“With an aim to promote farm mechanization and creating self-sufficient villages, in this financial year, 500 Tractors with Rs 2 lakh subsidy, besides Power Tillers, Paddy Planters and Threshers are being distributed among the farmers across J&K”, the Lt Governor maintained.
The Lt Governor said that the promotion of Agriculture, Horticulture, Dairy and Poultry sectors are our priorities and the Administration is going to take every step for the development of these sectors. He also underscored the importance of launching a massive campaign to make farmers aware of land use and other facets of modern agriculture.
We are working out the prioritization and convergence wherever required to make our efforts more effective in improving the viability, profitability, and sustainability of agriculture and allied sectors, he added.
He said that through Custom Hiring Centres which are being set for assisting small and marginal farmers, such farmers can easily borrow expensive machinery.
Highlighting the measures taken by the Government in fostering Agriculture and allied sectors, the Lt Governor said the Government is providing 50 percent subsidy for starting a fodder plant. Similarly, for setting up a dairy with 50 cows, a 50 percent subsidy is being provided by the Administration, besides 50 percent subsidy is also being provided for setting up milk chilling and processing plants, said the Lt Governor.
To increase flow of bank credit to small and marginal farmers, more focus is being given by the administration to this segment, the credit disbursal targets of Agriculture and allied sectors for the current financial year increased by 2.5 times against the last year disbursement, said the Lt Governor
Farmers from both divisions of the UT are being connected to the other markets of India through E-NAM at Narwal Jammu and Parimpora Srinagar. Innovative measures are being taken catering to the irrigation needs of the farmers. Jeevika Initiative, Udhampur has led to a new approach of integrated and remunerative farming, besides the number of bore-wells is being increased to benefit the farmers. In Jammu Division, work is on to install 265 bore-wells and to provide subsidy to the farmers for the Pump Sets, he said.
Recently, Kashmir Saffron has been given a GI tag which would help in its promotion and export throughout the world. Lulu Group from Abu Dhabi is going to set up a food processing plant in J&K. The United Arab Emirates is going to import products from Jammu & Kashmir directly. Bhaderwah Rajma, Kishtwar pear, Doda-Poonch walnut, Aamrapali and Mallika mangoes of Jammu, pecan nuts of Poonch and litchi from Reasi would also be given GI tags through the efforts of the Administration, observed the Lt Governor.
Speaking on the Agricultural Reforms, the Lt Governor said that the Agricultural Reforms by the Centre Government are for the betterment of the farmers. Under the reforms, the farmers would be free to cultivate their land and sell their produce according to their wish, he added.
Later, the Lt Governor inspected the stalls installed by the Progressive Farmers showcasing their produce and interacted with the farmers.
Farooq Khan, Advisor to the Lt Governor; BVR Subrahmanyam, Chief Secretary; Navin Kumar Choudhary, Principal Secretary, Agriculture Production and Farmer’s Welfare Department, senior officers and scores of farmers from across the UT were present on the occasion. |
