JAMMU: Additional Chief Secretary (ACS), Agriculture Production Department, Atal Dulloo, today advocated the need for evolving meticulous planning for effective implementation of Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSSs) relating to agriculture in Jammu and Kashmir.
ACS was chairing a meeting held to approve and recommend the Annual Action Plan for the year 2023-24. The plan encompasses various Centrally Sponsored Schemes that are currently operational in the Agriculture Production Department.
The meeting presented an annual action plan regarding various schemes including Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana, Holistic Agriculture Development Programme, Digital Agriculture Mission, Krishonnati Yojana, and National e-Governance Plan in Agriculture among others. The proposed plan is expected to promote niche crops, exotic vegetables, and hi-tech protected cultivation, farm mechanization and automation, promotion of oilseeds, development of rain-fed areas, and development of seed and seed multiplication chains, among others.
ACS emphasized meticulous planning and reasonable requirements of funds for maximum productivity. He asked the officers to ensure that the proposed components must be admissible under respective guidelines besides preparing detailed DPRs for each and every project before execution.
The outcomes of these proposed schemes are expected to include a reduction of cultivation costs by at least 10 percent, an increase of production/productivity by at least 12-15 percent, a reduction of drudgery by 12 percent and an increase of farmers’ income. In addition, the Per Drop More Crop initiative is expected to result in the inclusion of land under drip irrigation and sprinkler irrigation, improved irrigation facilities, and an overall saving of water by 70-90 percent.
During the meeting, lengthy discussions were held on budgetary estimates under various schemes and their respective components that are to be completed by various departments. The expenditures during the past financial year were reviewed and the revised figures for the new financial year were discussed.
Those present in the meeting included the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Dr Mohit Gera, Secretary of Jal Shakti Department, Deepika Sharma, DG Command Area Development, Directors of Agriculture, Horticulture, Animal Husbandry, Sheep Husbandry, Sericulture, and MD JK Agro besides other senior officers from various allied departments in person and through video conference.
