Jammu, March 14 (Scoop News) – Minister for Agriculture Ghulam Hassan Mir today informed the House that both the agriculture universities of Kashmir and Jammu are actively engaged in research and extension activities to boost farm production and productivity.
Replying to a supplementary question of MY Tarigami, he said the Vice-Chancellors of these varsities have appreciated the government for providing adequate financial help to fund research projects.
He said the communication gap between farm and lab has been reduced considerably, adding kissan melas featured by the government under ATMA scheme are aimed at promoting interface between farmers and universities to popularize the latest farm practices and techniques.
Earlier, the legislator in his supplementary question asked the government to subsidize MOP and DAP on the pattern of industrial entrepreneurs, who have been provided some sops. He called for funding special research projects in the twin Agriculture universities to enhance farm productivity on which, he pointed out is dependent 80% population of the State.
Tarigami said the productivity of agriculture in the State as well as remuneration of the produce has recorded decline over the years, adding the same has created disinterest among the children of the farmers and disoriented them towards adopting agriculture as occupation. He said against paddy production of 26 MT/ hectare in Europe, the State records only 12 MT/ hectare.
He urged the government to monitor the quality of pesticides, fungicides, etc effectively on ground level so that farmers are not compelled to use substandard agriculture inputs.
Crop production on rise: Mir
Says new agri policy being hammered out of shape
Minister for Agriculture, Ghulam Hassam Mir has said that in order to promote agriculture production, 7 centrally sponsored schemes are being implemented in the State, adding that these schemes proved beneficial to boost agriculture crops by introducing hybrid seeds, agriculture inputs on subsidy rates besides technical know-how to the farmers of the State.
This was stated by the Minister in reply to the question by M. Y. Tarigami in Legislative Assembly here today. He said that under the micro management of agriculture scheme 90 percent funds is providing by the Centre and under integrated scheme of oil seeds, oil palm and maize 75 percent funds is also being received from the Centre.
The Minister said that the Horticulture mission of the North-East and Himalayan States was started during the 1`0th Five year Plan with four Mini Missions of Rs 100 crore only. He, however, said the scheme is continuing during the 11th Five Year Plan as well under the new name of Horticulture Mission for North east Himalayan States.
The Minister said Rashtrya Krishi Vikas Yojana launched in the State from 2008-09 on 100 per cent assistance from the Centre. He said this scheme has been implemented during 2009-10 in the State. He said the scheme aims at achieving four percent annual growth in the agriculture sector during the 11th Plan period, by ensuring a holistic development of agriculture and allied sectors.
The Minister said that Centre has started to support the State extension work programme for extension reforms by institutionalizing the Agriculture Technology Management Agency (ATMA) Scheme in 8 districts of the State. He said this scheme got a fillip during current fiscal with the approval of action plan for Rs 1001.21 lakh, for all 22 ATMA districts of the State. He said an amount of Rs 444.80 lakh have been released as first instalment for implementation of the extension reforms programme in agriculture sector.
The Minister said that Centre has also approved state’s Rs 372.18 crore project for saffron development in the State under national mission to be implemented over a period of four years from 2010-11.
The Minister said SKUAST Kashmir has developed one hybrid seeds in maize for cultivation in the high altitude belts of Kashmir division. He said the State Agriculture University is developing hybrid vegetable and Cereal varieties which usually need 3-4 years for their release. He said it is expected within the next five years, the department will be able to release hybrid varieties for distribution amongst the farming community.
The Minister said that the agriculture department provides seeds to the farmers, which are produced in the departmental farms under the seed village programme, ISOPOM, Micro Management of agriculture and Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana. He also gave detailed information about the total quantity of hybrid seeds of various crops distributed among the farmers of the State during last kharief and current Rabi season.
The Minister said testing of fertilizers is done as per the fertilizer control order 1985 and testing of pesticides is done as per the insecticides act 1968 and insecticides rule 1971. He said 53 sub-standard samples of fertilizers and pesticides collected, including 6 samples of NPK fertilizer were found to be of sub-standard quality during current financial year. He said that prosecution against 43 defaulters has been launched and 940.5 kg of various pesticides seized from the defaulters in 5 districts of Kashmir division.
The Minister said a new agriculture policy is on anvil, which will focus on diversification of agriculture crops to encourage low volume-high value crops like fruits, flowers, vegetable in the State.