Jammu: Principal Secretary, Agriculture and Farmers Welfare department, Navin Kumar Choudhary today chaired a meeting of State Level Project Screening Committee (SLPSC) and took a detailed review of Annual Action Plan (AAP) of agriculture related Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS) for the year 2022-23 at Civil Secretariat here.
Speaking during the meeting, the Principal Secretary impressed upon the officers to stick to the scheme guidelines under every circumstances. He asked them to formulate their plans that would complement other plans taken under capex or other sources. He advised them to desist from seeking funds from multiple agencies for carrying out similar activities.
Navin further stressed upon the officers to make best out of these schemes as they have been fashioned to benefit the agriculture sector all over the country. He asked them to take farmers welfare only into consideration while proposing activities under CSS.
The Principal Secretary also discussed each of the proposed activity vis a vis its utility and impact on ground with the respective directors. He stressed upon the officers to make AAP more effective and result-oriented.
The Mission Director designate for these schemes gave a presentation on the activities to be taken up under each of them for different sectors and regions. He said that currently 3 centrally sponsored schemes are under progress here for which the plans are finalized for the next financial year. He said that each of the activity has been included in the plan after much deliberations with the concerned heads and experts of the department.
It was given out in the meeting that under Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY), assistance is sought from GoI for sectors like Crop Cultivation, Horticulture, Animal Husbandry, Fisheries, Dairy Development, Agricultural Research and Education, Marketing, Food storage and other allied activities.
The meeting was informed that the department has proposed different activities under RKVY for the year 2022-23. These include seed replacement, establishment of farmer markets, assistance for transportation, grading, and packaging, vermicompost, strengthening of SM farms, extension infrastructure, hydroponics etc.
Under National Mission on Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA), it was informed that the department has formulated plans for more than Rs 43.00 crore. These funds are scheduled to be spent on the components like soil health cards, soil health management, rainfed area development and other relevant activities supported by the scheme.
Further, both the divisions are set to implement the scheme for promotion of sustainable agriculture as envisaged under this central scheme.
During the meeting, the much ambitious National e-Governance Plan in Agriculture (NeGPA) was also discussed in detail.
It was said that under this scheme projects involving use of modern IT tools like artificial intelligence, block chain technology, Internet of Things, Robotics etc for the promotion of agriculture will be implemented. It was also highlighted that projects worth Rs 4.00 crores have been earmarked under this scheme for the UT to accomplish certain activities towards achieving the scheme goals.
