Monitor News Desk
Srinagar, July 26: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Wednesday directed officials to establish 2000 Kisan Khidmat Centres on priority to link all farmers to institutional credit in Jammu and Kashmir.
The LG directed officers during a high-level meeting held here to review performance of Agriculture Production Department and progress made in agriculture, allied sector and flagship scheme of Holistic Agriculture Development Programme (HADP).
He directed to establish 2000 Kisan Khidmat Centres on priority for handholding and clusterization and linking all farmers to institutional credit.
Timely and hassle-free credit to small and marginal farmers would play an important role in increasing production, the LG said.
Highlighting the important role SKUAST-Jammu and SKUAST-Kashmir in conceptualizing Holistic Agriculture Development Programme, the LG said the continued support of two Universities in implementation of 29 projects should be ensured.
He further directed to extend the Daksh Kisan module to colleges to inform budding entrepreneurs about scope and opportunities in agri-business.
The High Density Plantation Scheme has been extended to 13 Crops now. The farmers should be provided with guidance and support to chart out a new course and reap the benefits of technology extension, better infrastructure and improved marketing facilities, the LG told the officials.
The Lt Governor congratulated the officials and all stakeholders generating overwhelming response from farmers across Jammu and Kashmir for the ongoing Kisan Sampark Abhiyan.
The LG also directed for impact assessment of Kisan Sampark Abhiyan and exploring the possibility to extend the drive beyond August so that maximum farmers are covered and maximum utilization of schemes under HADP is ensured.
He said, the 29 interventions of HADP focuses on quality, productivity and efficiency in Agriculture and Allied Sectors.
“Our sustained efforts can propel subsistence agriculture to sustainable commercial agri-economy and mitigate the challenges faced by the farming community. It should be our collective endeavour to provide effective IT support for monitoring of HADP’s project implementation,” the LG said.
He also called for increasing the reach of YouTube channels and to publicise the mobile applications on App download stores and also streamlining Daksh Kisan for hybrid skilling of farmers.
The meeting, at the Civil Secretariat, was attended by Arun Kumar Mehta, Chief Secretary, Shailendra Kumar, Administrative Secretary, Agriculture Production Department (Addl. Charge), Santosh D Vaidya, Principal Secretary, Finance Department; Dr Mandeep Kumar Bhandari, Principal Secretary to Lt Governor, Baldev Prakash, MD & CEO J&K Bank, Nazir A Ganai, Vice Chancellor SKUAST Kashmir and other senior officers.
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