Epilogue Press

EPILOGUE PRESS
JAMMU, FEBRUARY 21- Maintaining that agriculture is the mainstay of State’s economy, the Minister for Finance and Ladakh Affairs, Mr. A.R. Rather today reaffirmed that the Government would take every possible measure to develop the Sector on modern lines for over all socio economic transformation of the State.
Speaking at pre-budget discussions with progressive farmers of the State here this afternoon, Mr. Rather said primary importance of the agriculture sector could not be overlooked as 70 percent of the population is directly or indirectly associated with it for earning their livelihood. He said, like last year’s pre-budget discussions, this year too due consideration would be given to various suggestions and views presented by the concerned Ministers and representatives of farming community.
The Minister for Agriculture, Mr. Gh. Hassan Mir, Minister for Horticulture, Mr. Sham Lal Sharma, Minister for Sheep and Animal Husbandry, Aga Syed Ruhulla, Vice Chairman J&K Board for Welfare of Kissans, Mr. Rachpal Singh, Minister of State for Cooperatives (I/C), Dr. Manohar Lal Sharma, Minister of State for Agriculture Mr. Javed Ahmed Dar and a large number of progressive farmers and senior Government functionaries of the concerned agriculture and allied departments were present in the meeting.
Mr. Rather said agriculture and allied sectors have vast economic for economic mobilization and employment generation potential adding that need of the hours was to ensure introduction of latest agricultural technology and ensuring timely supply of various agriculture inputs to give impetus and boost to agriculture production in the State.
Mr. Rather said that owing to the great significance of agriculture in the economic scenario, the tallest leader of the nation, Mahatma Gandhi had said “if you want the country to see prosperous, we shall have to develop our villages first”. Keeping this importance of agriculture in view that for the first time an independent Jammu and Kashmir Board for Development of Kissans was constituted by the present dispensation. Not only this, Government on the intervention of Chief Minister Mr. Omar Abdullah provided out of way a special grant of Rs. 13 crore to agriculture for timely procurement of seeds. “ imfact, there is a need for creating a seed bank in the State for timely seed replacement to boost agriculture production, Mr. Rather added.
Mr. Gh. Hassan Mir said that it is for the first time that agriculture has got recognition during the present dispensation. He thanked the Finance Minister for incorporating most of the suggestions in the last year Budget proposals, hoping that this year too the budget would be agriculture oriented. He cautioned that if steps are not taken right now to check the tendency of shift from agriculture to other areas, it would result in further compounding the chronic un-employed problem in the State. He pleaded for increasing the number of Sheep units per district from 100 to 200 units, besides provision of soft loans by the Banks on the pattern of Nationalized Banks.
Mr. Sham Lal called for integrating various schemes in agriculture and allied departments in various departments like agriculture, sheep and animal husbandry, horticulture, floriculture and sericulture for achieving desired results. He emphasized for creation of irrigation facilities adding that agriculture promotion was not possible without adequate irrigation infrastructure.
The Sheep and Animal Husbandry Minister suggested greater budgetary support to boost poultry and dairy units in the State which has tremendous local market. “This Way the State would be able to save about Rs. 1500 crore annually on impost of poultry and meat” he added. He said the Government was contemplating to introduce drug purchase policy on the patter of Health department to ensure quality of medicines.
Dr. Manohar called for creating awareness among the farmers about various agriculture schemes and demanded adequate State share for revival of cooperative societies whereas Mr. Javid Ahmed Dar sought exemption of toll tax on plant spray oil besides reviving market intervention scheme in the State.
Among othrs, the meeting was also attended by the Economic Advisor to Governemnt, Mr. Jalil Ahmed Khan, Principal Secretary Agriculture, Mr. M.I. Khanday, Commissioner/ Secretary Finance, Mr. Sudanshu Panday, Secretary Cooperatives, Mr. Ab. Hamid, Commissioner Commercial Taxes, Khawaja Bashir Ahmed, Commissioner Excise, Mr. G.A. Peer, Registrar Cooperatives, Mr. Mohammad Abbas, Director Horticulture Jammu, Mr. Jai Lal Sharma, Director Horticulture Kashmir, Dr. Gh. Hassan Shah, Director Agriculture, Jammu, Mr. Ajay Khajuria, Director Sericulture, Mohd Ashraf Khan and a large number of Progressive agriculturists dealing in agriculture, poultry, dairy, floriculture, sericulture and other allied activities.