*Focus of APD only on distribution of seeds, fertilizers
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, July 2: Notwith-standing the repeated thrust of the Governor and the Chief Minister on making Jammu and Kashmir self-sufficient in agriculture production, over 40% funds available under different schemes have remained unutilized in the State due to the slackness on the part of officers of Agriculture Production Depa-rtment (APD), whose activities are confined only to the distribution of seeds and fertilizers.
In each and every official meeting it is stated that agriculture is the backbone of the State’s economy and development of this sector will benefit over 70% of the population of Jammu and Kashmir. But the fact remains that only one third of the State’s potential in agriculture sector has been utilized till date thereby creating impediments in increasing productivity. This is mainly because of failure of the officers of the Agriculture Production Department to spend the money allocated under different schemes.
As per the official figures available with EXCELSIOR, an amount of Rs 44925.72 lakh was planned to be spent under different schemes of agriculture sector in Jammu and Kashmir during 2016-17 financial year. However, these figures were later revised at Rs 34080.08 lakh.
Against revised outlay for 2016-17, an amount of Rs 19063.77 lakh was released during the last financial year. However, the utilization was Rs 11018.76 lakh (58% of the released amount). While in some of the schemes the funds utilization was up to the satisfaction, in many schemes the performance of the APD was dismal.
Under Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) an amount of Rs 2500 lakh was released to J&K but the expenditure was only Rs 7.67 lakh. Similarly, under National e-Governance Plan in Agriculture (NeGP-A), an amount of Rs 70.51 lakh was released but the expenditure was only Rs 2.72 lakh. Even under Integrated Scheme for Development of Sericulture Industry (Catalytic Develop-ment Programme), an amount of Rs 491.03 lakh was released to J&K but the expenditure was only Rs 284.61 lakh, which is around 58% of the total allocation.
As far as National Mission on Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA) is concerned, the Government of India had released Rs 472.31 lakh but State utilized only Rs 254.96 lakh. Likewise, an amount of Rs 30.70 lakh was utilized against release of Rs 50.01 lakh under National Mission on Oilseeds and Oil Palm (NMOOP).
Under Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) flagship programme, an amount of Rs 5741.21 lakh was released to J&K and against this expenditure was to the tune of Rs 2584.48 lakh. In Kashmir valley, an amount of Rs 660.26 lakh was released to Directorate of Agriculture but expenditure was recorded at only Rs 199.31 lakh.
However, the performance of the Agriculture Production Department and its allied wings was better in implementation of Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) as against release of Rs 2245.58 lakh an amount of Rs 1911.28 lakh was utilized.
“These figures clearly indicate that officers of the Agriculture Production Department and its allied wings have failed to play their role in increasing productivity by bringing more land under agricultural activities”, sources remarked, adding “it is a matter of concern that on one side the State projects demand of huge funds under different schemes of agriculture sector but when it comes to utilization it makes dismal performance”.
The depressing scenario vis-à-vis utilization of funds available under different schemes during 2016-17 financial year is notwithstanding the fact that at the start of the financial year the Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti had laid stress on bringing more land under agricultural activities to increase productivity and generate employment.
While reviewing the functioning of Agriculture Production Department in a meeting on April 22, 2016, the Chief Minister had wondered why production was not picking up despite the fact that land in J&K is fertile and there are enough water resources. She had asked the officers not to confine themselves to routine administrative work and restrict their activities to distribution of seeds and fertilizers only.
Not only Chief Minister, even Governor N N Vohra has repeatedly been laying thrust on making outcome of the schemes visible on ground but less than 60% utilization of funds has pointed towards continuous poor performance of the concerned officers of the APD and its allied wings.
“Taking serious note of dismal performance in utilization of funds, the Principal Secretary to Government, Agriculture Production Department, Sundeep Kumar Nayak has directed all the officers to improve their performance during the current financial year failing which necessary action would be taken against them”, sources said.
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