Srinagar, Sept 05: As a part of agricultural mechanization support to the farmers for broader economic transformation, Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha today handed over sanction letters for 100 tractors to the farmers and 1035 threshers for Panchayats at Agriculture Complex, Lal Mandi.
Speaking on the occasion, the Lt Governor congratulated the beneficiary farmers and Panchayat members who received sanction letters today.
Mechanization of farming is one of the important factors to transform the agriculture sector. It will further lead to sweeping changes and help farmers produce more, said the Lt Governor.
Terming Agriculture & horticulture sectors as key drivers of UT’s economic growth, the Lt Governor said that the government has ensured efficient use of seed technologies, high-density plantation, nutrient management, and widespread adoption of integrated dairy farming scheme to make J&K Agricultural Powerhouse.
Listing the reforms introduced by the government to transform the agriculture sector, the Lt Governor observed that the agriculture department is providing facilities like cold storage, market linkages and food processing units, besides developing a strong framework for farmer-industry connect and generating employment opportunities for rural youth to bridge the urban-rural divide.
The Lt Governor advised the farmers to adopt new ways like cash crops, intercropping along with traditional agriculture for the steady increase in farm income.
On Farm Mechanization, the Lt Governor observed that the government is setting up Custom Hiring Centers and Farm Machinery Banks in different parts of the UT. As many as 151 Custom Hiring Centers and 122 Farm Machinery Banks have also been started so far, he added.
Making strides in transforming the agricultural sector, the Government has set the target of providing 500 tractors to the farmers. Similarly, we had decided to provide threshers to panchayats for harvesting of paddy and maize. As many as 1147 threshers were given earlier and sanction letters for 1035 are being issued today, added the Lt Governor.
For the first time in history, 2000 trucks of vegetables have been exported from Jammu and Kashmir to other parts of the country. J&K has achieved top position in the entire country with a yield of 70 quintals per hectare of paddy. We are converting 60,000 hectares of Basmati agricultural land into high productivity land, the Lt Governor observed.
In the last one year, we have produced a record 5400 metric tonnes of mushroom and 22,182 quintals of honey. Kisan Credit Cards have been made available to more than 11 lakh 60 thousand farmer brothers. Today, Rs 8,000 cr worth market of apples is changing the lives of 30 lakh people connected with the sector, he added.
