Srinagar, July 21: Secretary Agriculture Production Department, Manzoor Ahmad Lone today chaired a meeting to review Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana- Remunerative Approaches for Agriculture and Allied Sectors Rejuvenation (RKVY-RAFTAAR) 2019-20. The meeting reviewed department-wise allocation and expenditure during 2018-2019 and discussed the proposed projects and plants to be taken for the year 2019-20 by all departments.

The meeting was attended by Director Agriculture Kashmir, Syed Altaf Aijaz Andrabi, Director Agriculture Jammu, P.S. Rathore , MD Agro Industries Development. R.K. Rakwal, Director Sericulture, Riyaz Ahmad, Director Command Area Development,  Jammu and Managing Director Horticulture, Planning and Marketing and other concerned officers.

The meeting discussed the projects and activities to be under-taken under RKVY RAFTAR by agriculture and allied departments for which an amount of Rs. 22.64 crore has been proposed to be submitted for sanction by the State Level Sanctioning Committee.

 

Secretary Agriculture has called upon the officers to devise a strategy for making agriculture a remunerative and a profitable venture. Lone said that agriculture should be made a glamorous enterprise by turning farmers into agricultural entrepreneurs. He stressed for organising awareness programmes and emphasized upon the need of intervention so that there is a significant impact of the agriculture department at ground level.

He emphasized upon taking initiatives for increasing production of agriculture crops, post harvest management and marketing, increasing the green house structures, creation of irrigation facilities, introduction of new high yielding hybrid varieties and promotion of heirloom varieties. He stressed for wormy-composting and popularization of organic farming for producing healthy foods for healthy life.

Earlier, Director Agriculture Kashmir informed that agriculture department is making efforts for higher profits by way of increasing production, better marketing and linking it to National market in shape of a brand like Kashmir Fresh, Jammu Fresh, Meetha Rice, Summer Mist Honey and other products. He said that adopting of green house technology and reducing the harshness of winters through raising vegetable nursery in controlled conditions is being undertaken by the department on priority basis. 

Director apprised the meeting about the production status of various crops, seeds, physical and financial achievements and other important projects taken under RKVY.

The meeting was also informed about bringing more areas under irrigation and also use of high yielding varieties as per the standard seed replacement rate is on the priority list of the department. He also informed about the organic clusters and villages taken-up  in all the districts of Kashmir Valley.

The projects undertaken by Horticulture Department J&K were also discussed in detail and the emphasis was laid upon covering more areas under high density planting and development of public sector nurseries, mother plants , seedlings, post harvest handling and marketing.

The projects and activities taken by allied departments like Sheep Husbandry, Floriculture, Forest Department, Animal Husbandry, Command Area Development and SKUAST-J and SKUAST-K were also discussed.

BUDGAM, JULY 21: DDC Budgam, Dr. Syed Sehrish Asgar today reviewed the status of various sports activities being organized at different places in the district under the age group of 25 years for boys & girls at a meeting held here today.

Among others, ADC Budgam, District Panchayat Officer, Block Development Officers and officers of concerned Department attended the meeting.

Speaking on the occasion, DDC Budgam said that it is important to channelize the energy of youth in right direction, for which the sports play a pivotal role. Sports not only inculcate the sense of responsibility, discipline among the youth but also keep them mentally as well as physically fit, therefore, it’s very important to engage the youth in the sports activities along with their education.

 

She informed that various sports competitions shall be conducted by District Youth Services & Sports Department in collaboration with Rural Development Department Budgam at the panchayat level to nurture the talent of rural youth. She called for identification of venues at the earliest with focus on involvement of both students as well as non-students. Around 280 Registered Youth Clubs in District can provide vital information in identification of talented youth aspiring to take part in these games.

She lauded the role of RDD in recently concluded ‘Back to Village’ programme & urged it to actively involve the Panchayat functionaries in the process of organizing the forthcoming games. She instructed for proper arrangements like transport, refreshment, drinking water etc for the participating players. Several other issues related to the forthcoming games were discussed and the DDC issued necessary instructions to the concerned.

Tangmarg, July 21: People’s Democratic Party (PDP) leader Shabir Mir held a workers convention in Tangmarg and urged the workers to strengthen the party’s base in Gulmarg assembly segment.

While addressing over 2000 workers, Mir, who will be contesting assembly elections, said that previous legislators made hollow promises only and didn’t develop the constituency.

He urged the workers to spread the PDP’s agenda of peace and development for the state.

 

He said that the condition of healthcare, education and development sectors has not improved in the last decades as the representatives of the constituency failed to deliver.