Excelsior Correspondent
SAMBA, Apr 9: Government today said that the assessment of losses suffered by farmers due to damage to standing crops, due to rains, including vegetable and other cultivations would be started soon.
This was stated by Minister for Agriculture Ghulam Nabi Lone Hanjura and Minister for Industries and Commerce Chander Prakash Ganga during their tour to various areas in Samba district to take stock of the damages caused to vegetable and other crops due to recent incessant rains.
Accompanied by Director Agriculture Jammu Dr. S. S. Jamwal, Director Command Area Jammu H. K. Sharma and other district officers, the Ministers interacted with the farmers at Sarore, Chak Salaria, Gudwal, Koulpur villages to get first hand appraisal of their problems.
The Ministers said that the teams will be deputed to the affected areas to conduct survey and assess the losses. The Ministers also asked them to prepare detailed report in this regard and submit the same to the concerned quarters so that compensation is provided to the affected farmers.
Interacting with the farmers at different places, the Minister for Agriculture said that the State Government under the leadership of Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed was fully aware of the problems of farmers, adding that they have been suffering for last some years due to drought, disease and now floods.
Mr. Hanjura said the Government has proposed in this year’s budget to waive off 50 per cent Kissan Credit Card loans for the small and most vulnerable farmers who have an outstanding balance of less than Rs. 1 lakh. He said the Government has earmarked Rs.150 crore for the purpose.
Minister for Industries and Commerce also interacted with farmers and said that the PDP-BJP Coalition Government is committed to provide good governance and better basic amenities to all the people.
Responding to the demands including concession in power tariff, providing of free rations, issuance of APL ration cards, waiving off loans and timely issuance of Kissan Credit Cards, put forth by the farmers, the Ministers assured them that every possible help would be provided by the Government to mitigate the problems of the farmer community.
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