The Lieutenant Governor in his Republic Day address reiterated the government’s “resolve to accelerate and broaden the developmental process in agriculture and allied sectors”.
Jammu and Kashmir is predominantly an agrarian economy with 70% of its population dependent on agricultural activities. Indeed, the progress of J&K is directly associated with the development of farmers.
Recently a government’s Apex Committee, comprising of Agricultural Scientists, prepared a detailed plan to “transform agriculture and allied sectors”.
Headed by Ex-DG ICAR, the panel’s terms and conditions included directing and monitoring “timely working of the Technical Working Groups (TWGs)” as well as acting as a “strategic advisory committee” at top level. Importantly, it was tasked with the job to draw the broader contours of the strategic roadmap for the growth and development of agriculture in different activities on which the respective domain TWGs shall work upon. It was also tasked to meet target of 100% SRR with quality seeds, by building seed multiplication chains in PPP or through private entrepreneurships, double resource use efficiency from 30% to 60% in respect of nutrients and moisture as well as reducing food waste to 1/3 (10%) through proper post-harvest management by building suitable infrastructure and tripling food processing from 5 to 15% by focus on secondary agriculture etc.
Not only this, it was additionally tasked to build capacity to meet the requirements of the quality planting material and establish functional and profitable FPOs in all districts of J&K.
The panel submitted the policy recommendation in a time-bound manner which it turn reflected the urgency and importance the government has been according to the sector.
Subsequently, the government said that a “holistic” plan of Rs 5012 crore has been approved and training programs are being organized to implement 29 projects over the next five years. The government says it’s aim is to transform subsistence agriculture into sustainable commercial Agri-economy.
Of late, the administration’s emphasis has been on ecosystem services, functional value chain, diversification, resilient, smart agricultural practices and farmer-community centric approach for the development of agriculture. Continuous efforts are needed to sustain farmers by constantly focusing on developing the agriculture sector in J&K.
There is also a need to provide optimum benefits of various farmer centric initiatives like PM-Kissan, Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, Soil health cards, Jan Dhan Yojana and Kisan Credit. Besides, the government should continue to focus on technology to the benefit of farmers and take other measures to make farming a highly remunerative and gainful profession.