Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 21: Minister of Agriculture Ghulam Hassan Mir has distributed cheques amounting to Rs 35 lakh among the farmer groups/associations as back ended subsidy terror purchase of farm machinery, digging bore wells which included Rs 25 lakh for setting up five new agri business centres in Jammu district at Jourian, Jaswan, Pargwal and Nikki Marchangi Pallanwala by the Agriculture Department.
It includes the subsidy for purchase of farm equipments, tools and machinery and for purchase of rotavators, one combine harvestor, water harvesting tank and borewell under different Central sponsored schemes.
These cheques were distributed by the Minster while inaugurating the Agri business centre at Majua Uttami, Pandorian and Bishnah established with an assistance of Rs 5 lakh as back ended subsidy provided by the Department of Agriculture Jammu. The function was also attended by MLA Bishnah Ashwani Sharma.
In his address Mr Mir said that an amount of Rs 6.30 crore has been spent on promoting use of farm machinery during the last two years in the division since the new policy was brought into force in 2011. He further said that the agriculture business centre is an innovative concept introduced by Department of Agriculture under Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojna to promote extensive use of machinery by the common farmers in the rural areas under custom service hire system and eight such centres are already functioning in different districts of Jammu Division.
The Minster said that the farm mechanization is helping the farmers to boost the agriculture production by adoption of innovative scientific techniques and is also resulting in higher returns to the farmers. This step of popularization of machinery in agriculture is aimed at attracting the youth towards farming by reducing labour and drudgery in farm operations.
Beneficiaries of agri business centres appreciated the efforts of the Department. The Minister also visited procurement Mandi Bishnah.
Ashwani Sharma while addressing complimented the Department for making all out efforts to increase production and productivity of crops by assisting the farmers to adopt latest technology in farming. He impressed upon the farmers to come forward and get themselves benefited by the schemes and programmes of the Department.
Director Agriculture, Jammu Ajay Khajuria presented the detail of activities and programmes run by the Department for increasing the production and productivity. He urged the farmers to come forward and avail the assistance for purchase of latest and innovative machinery.
Jt Director Agri Extension Dr S S Jamwal, Joint Director Inputs Sushil Sahni and other officers of the Department were also present on the occasion.
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