Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 30: The J&K Advisory Board for Development of Kisans today organised a daylong Kisan Sammelan in Jammu.
Chaired by Bhumesh Sharma, Secretary of the Advisory Board, the event marked participation from Board members from Jammu Division, progressive farmers and heads of Agriculture and Allies Departments.
Welcoming the participants, the Secretary said the Advisory Board is acting as a bridge between the Government and farmers.
He said Board members play an important role in guiding unemployed youth and entrepreneurs.
Sharma urged farmers to take full benefit of the twenty-nine Holistic Agriculture Development Programme (HADP) and Central Sponsored Schemes currently being implemented in Jammu and Kashmir.
Director Horticulture Jammu, Gul Syed, briefed the gathering about HADP schemes in the division.
He said the Jammu and Kashmir Competitiveness Improvement of Agriculture and Allied Sectors Project (JKCIP) portal is linked with Kisan Khidmat Ghars and works as a hub for promoting sustainable agriculture and strengthening the rural economy.
He said adequate root stock banks are available and subsidies are being provided for rejuvenation of old orchards.
He also informed that solar-controlled systems are being provided on subsidy to tackle the monkey menace. Subsidies are also available for poly greenhouses and food processing units.
Director Agriculture Jammu, Anil Gupta, said a successful CACP meeting was recently held at SKUAST Jammu.
He informed that there are twenty-four procurement centres in Jammu Division and a record procurement of paddy has been achieved from Jammu, Samba and Kathua districts, totalling 4.98 lakh quintals worth about Rs 118 crore.
He said mushroom cultivation has become a year-round activity and guchhi production has increased in Doda and Kishtwar.
He also noted that honey, rajmash and kaladi have received GI tags, reflecting growth in organic farming.
Director Sheep Husbandry Jammu, Dr Syed Moin-Ul-Haq, informed about ongoing schemes and said farmers with forty-two kanals of land can rear five hundred sheep on fifty percent subsidy.
He also suggested setting up shearing units to increase income.
Board members raised several issues, including irrigation in Kandi areas, timely release of canal water, proper verification of subsidies, high input costs in poultry farming, insurance coverage for all dairy animals, electricity charges on bore wells, monitoring of fertiliser sales and timely compensation for crop damage.
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