Jammu, September 21 (Scoop News)-Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand today said that agriculture sector and farming community of the state is getting focused attention of the government and all out efforts are afoot to provide required support by way of extending credit facilities and bringing technology to the farms.
He said the present dispensation aims to involve all stake holders associated with the agriculture field, so that welfare schemes and latest developments in the field are made accessible to the farmers.
Tara Chand was addressing a mammoth gathering at the inauguration of Kisan Credit Card (KCC) awareness cum registration camp at Gurha Manhasan, Pargwal.
Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Akhnoor N.S.Jamwal, Sub-Divisional Officer, Agriculture Jatinder Sharma, Lead Bank representative R.C. Sharma besides other senior officers of different departments participated in the camp.
Underlining role of KCC, the Deputy Chief Minister said that the card can save farmers from the clutches of private money lenders and provide much needed timely credit support to the farmers for their cultivation and other needs, adding that besides short term credit the card can also be used for long term credit activities like purchasing pump sets, sprays and dairy animals.
“Through the help of KCC our farmers can individually as well as jointly avail the benefit of loans at a very nominal rate to meet various requirements associated with the agriculture profession and also for allied activities like dairy farming, fishery etc.,” he remarked.
He said need of the hour is to extend reach of the schemes launched for the benefit of farmers and elected representatives of Panchayats can play pivotal role in making the farmer community aware of the schemes. Sarpanchs and Panchs of the area should make sure that 100% coverage is done and all farmers get themselves registered and local representatives of those areas which show maximum registration would be rewarded, he added.
He distributed KC cards to the farmers and directed the SDM to divide the block in four zones to organize KCC and employment camps for the people besides extending the present camp to ten days.
Taking cognizance to the problems projected by the people, Tara Chand on the spot sanctioned a tube well for Gurha Manhasan and directed the authorities to prepare estimate for construction of boundary wall of primary school under BADP.
He said to upgrade rural infrastructure number of projects have been undertaken and long pending demand of the people for Pargwal bridge and well laid network of roads is being given due priority. Road from distributory number 1 to Hamirpur Kona has been upgraded to double lane and highest level authorities have been involved to clear the impediments for early start of the Pargwal village, he added.
He also directed the Irrigation authorities to prepare lift irrigation projects for Hamirpur Kona and Gurah Manhasan, to be taken up under NABARD funding. Directions were also issued for developing N.S. Pura as a picnic spot.
Calling upon farmers to utilize latest techniques in farming, the Deputy Chief Minister said use of technology in the agriculture sector can increase the yield and bring prosperity to the villages. He said besides tradition crops the farmers should also exploit the potential of cash crops and medicinal plants.
“Agriculture department has to encourage farmers for making use of latest developments in the field of agriculture so that farming profession does not loose its shine and more and more youngsters get attracted to farming,” he added.
The SDM and lead bank representatives in their presentations gave details of various aspects of the credit facilities extended to the farmers.