Use of modern technology key to transforming agrarian economy: Kohli

RAJOURI: Minister for Animal, Sheep Husbandry and Fisheries, Abdul Ghani Kohli today said that in order to boost agrarian economy, the use of latest technology should be promoted at all levels.

The Minister said this during a meeting convened to review the functioning of Horticulture, Sericulture and Agriculture sectors in Rajouri here today.

The sectoral heads of the departments apprised the minister regarding the physical and financial achievements of the concerned sectors during this fiscal and also the bottlenecks faced by them in achieving the targets within stipulated time-frame.

Chief Horticulture Officer, Kirtan Singh enumerated the plan formulated under MIDH and PMDP schemes.

The Minister took a detailed review of the steps taken for improving productivity of various crops in the region. He stressed on generating awareness about the use of latest technology among the farmers. He maintained that the post-harvest losses should be minimized by timely intervention and disseminating requisite information among farmers.

The Minister said that it is vital that the human resource is kept abreast with the latest know-how in the field so that the field functionaries help the farmers in increasing productivity.

Minister also reviewed the achievements under Integrated Watershed Management Programme (IWMP) is the region. The Minister asked the concerned authorities to mobilize staff within the department to provide full time manpower required for effective implementation of IWMP projects in the district.

The Minister asked the officers to work with missionary approach and zeal to ensure implementation of all central and state sponsored schemes to ameliorate the lot of farmers. He urged the officers to organize awareness camps in the far off areas so that the masses could know about the various central and state sponsored welfare schemes and the purpose for which these schemes are launched could be fulfilled.

Project Manager IWMP Rajouri Choudhary Shafiq Ahmed, SDM Kalakote, Khalid Majeed, CHO, among other senior district officers of various departments attended the meeting.