Excelsior Correspondent
KATHUA, Dec 30: NABARD organized a function on implementation of Area Development Scheme (ADS) on dairy and allied activities here.
On the occasion, Chief General Manager, NABARD Shanker A Pande was the chief guest, who while speaking highlighted the importance of ADS under Dairy Sector.
The objective of the scheme is to enhance production and marketing of clean milk, capacity building of farmers for undertaking dairy farming as commercial activity, increase income of dairy farmers through value addiction, provision of infrastructure like animal shed, bulk coolers, promotion of dairy farming in a contiguous area, increasing of average cattle farm size with the farmers so as to reduce cost on material inputs, encouraging good functional SHGs to take up dairy farming activity and increase employment opportunities for the rural unemployed youth, he said, adding that under ADS a credit flow of about 1017.50 lakh is envisaged during next 2 years in dairy sector.
The success of ADS will be judged from increased in milk productivity and production, increase in farmers income through better price realization, setting up of milk plant, bulk coolers, milk processing units, etc, he said and asked the bankers and Government departments to make it a huge success.
He also highlighted the importance of roping landless farmers and share croppers in JLG mode.
CGM NABARD also paid visit to SBI-RSETI campus and KVK Campus and interacted with farmers. He asked them to club agriculture activities with dairy, which will provide them additional income. He patiently listened to problems of farmers and assured all help from NABARD.
Among others present were Aman Kalsotra, DDM NABARD, Hans Raj Hans, LDM, Vijay Padha, Director, SBI-RSETI, RK Kalsotra, LBO, Dalip Singh, Cluster Head, J&K Bank, KL Sharma, Area Manager, JKGB, Dr Surjit Kumar, Chief Animal Husbandry Officer, Dr Travinder Singh, Chief Horticulture Officer, Bipin Samyal, Chief Agriculture Officer, Scientists of KVK, Managers of different banks, representatives of NGOs and dairy farmers.