J&K’s economy growing strongly; Agri reform best cure for sustained growth: LG
Says focus is on enhancing productivity, removing disparities, diversification, expansion of agro-processing & value chains
Jammu: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha Tuesday said that the economy of Jammu and Kashmir is growing strongly even as he stressed on the reforms in agriculture and allied sectors for sustained growth.
Addressing the gathering of farmers and agricultural scientists after inaugurating IFFCO’s Farmer’s Convention on liquid Nano Urea, today at the Convention Centre, Sinha said the biggest challenge before us today is to make fertilizers more sustainable for the future and ensure adequate nutrition.
“Nano Urea enhances productivity, quality, reduces CO2 emission, and increases farmer’s profitability,” he added.
In order to meet the challenges of climate change, high farm input cost, productivity, and resilience against socio-economic factors, “we are implementing policies that tackle the problems and create synergies between a range of concerns and with the multiple stakeholders,” the LG said.
According to an official press release, the LG further observed that J&K’s economy is now growing quite strongly and agri reform is the best cure for sustained growth. “Our steps are focused on enhancing productivity, competitiveness, removing disparities, diversification to higher value commodities, expansion of agro-processing and value chains,” he added.
Noting that the relationship between administration and society is changing and people and government are devising a new mechanism to work together, the LG stressed that farmers and officials should work together and strengthen the collaboration in order to put agri-economy on a new trajectory of growth and better implementation of reforms.
“Soil conservation is a global priority now. For better management of agricultural production, investing deeply in soil health, prevention of biodiversity loss is necessary for sustainable growth,” said the LG.
He underscored that Individual Farmer incomes have grown solidly over the last two years and the pace of reform has quickened recently followed by recommendations of Apex Committee on holistic development of agriculture and allied sectors.
“Structural and attitudinal changes are reflecting in productivity performance, adaption of new technologies, expansion of public extension services and strengthening of infrastructure and operations,” he added.
“We have huge potential for processing, comparative advantage in several Agri-commodities and scope for mobilizing farmers through FPOs and SHGs to monetize produce, secure livelihood and standard of living for farmers and workers,” said the LG.
Congratulating Indian Farmers Fertilizer Cooperative Ltd (IFFCO) for developing Liquid Nano Urea aimed at reducing pollution and increasing crop production, the LG said Liquid Nano Urea is making a positive impact in J&K’s agriculture sector.
“IFFCO’s initiatives like training on the use of Nano Urea, battery-operated sprayers & spray-drones and declaring villages -Akalpur in Jammu and Y.K Pora in Kashmir Valley- as IFFCO Nano Fertilizer Model Villages will surely complement the government’s efforts in protecting and improving fertility of our agricultural fields,” he added.
The LG observed that Dr Mangala Rai-led Apex Committee on Agriculture provides a futuristic roadmap for upliftment of the farming community and making agriculture sustainable and productive for the coming generations, especially for those involved in traditional and high-value crops.
On the occasion, the LG distributed incentives and awards to the progressive farmers. Exhibition and stalls were installed for extending information on various agriculture schemes and benefits to farmers.
Atal Dulloo, Additional Chief Secretary, Agriculture Production department, in his address said that 140 PM Kissan Samriddhi Kendras will be established in phase-I in J&K in collaboration with IFFCO and fertilizer companies which will provide information, advisories and equipment required for farming, besides increasing interactions between agricultural scientists and farmers.
Prof JP Sharma, Vice-Chancellor, SKUAST-Jammu, highlighted the steps taken and initiatives initiated for increasing farmers’ income through increased production and reducing input cost.
Dr. U.S. Awasthi, Managing Director & CEO, IFFCO, threw light on the key features and benefits of Nano Urea in increasing farm productivity. He said that IFFCO is committed towards the service and welfare of the farming community.
KK Sharma, Director, Agriculture, Jammu; members of Jammu & Kashmir Advisory Board for Development of Kissans; representatives from IFFCO; farmers from different districts, besides officers and scientists of Agriculture department were present on the occasion.
