Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 12: For improving its socio-economic standard, the Jammu and Kashmir needs an accelerated and inclusive growth in Agriculture and allied sector, which contributes 21 percent to the State’s GSDP as against all India average of 14 percent.
This was stated by Dr T Haq, Director Council for Social Development, New Delhi and former Chairman of the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices, Government of India, while delivering keynote address during the 32nd Foundation Day celebration function, here today.
For accelerated development, he identified focus areas, which include higher density planting in apple orchards, utilizing abundant availability of raw material for processing and value addition, exploiting unutilized potential of floriculture, medicinal and aromatic plants, etc.
Dr Haq also identified thrust areas, which can be developed with coordinated intervention of all the stakeholders. The areas identified by him include village level and farm level development of seed sector, technology transfer, promotion of low cost Green House technology for vegetables, micro-irrigation management, organic farming, promotion of producer companies and co-operative marketing societies, promotion of dry land horticulture, replacement of old and senile orchards, development of post harvest infrastructure such as market, storage, processing, training and promotion of diversification and value addition especially preservation facilities for fruits, vegetables, livestock and other agro products.
Dr Haq also invited attention of Dr Asgar Hassan Samoon, Commissioner Secretary Agriculture Production Department in the State Government, also present in the programme as the guest of honour, towards policy level interventions required for increased investment in rural infrastructure and legalizing land leasing within farming community etc.
Appreciating NABARD’s concern for promoting agriculture and allied sector in the State, Dr Asgar Samoon said that the valuable inputs would facilitate development of future strategies and actionable points for all the Stake holders.
Earlier, in his opening remarks, Dr G B Mukhopadhyay, CGM NABARD, J&K Regional Office, said that NABARD was playing an important role in `financial inclusion’ agenda of the Government.
Samriti Bhagat, Assistant General Manager NABARD, J&K Regional Office, thanked all the participants, who also included representatives of RBI, SBI, PNB, EDB, JKGB, Cooperative Bank and NGOs.
On the occasion, a souvenir was also released.
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