Srinagar, March 06 : A one-day “Awareness Programme cum Kisan Sammelan” centred around the Union Government’s Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) was organised at Dak Bungalow Baramulla today. Union Minister of state for Agriculture, Farmers Welfare and Panchayati Raj Parshottam Rupala was the chief guest on the occasion.
The programme was organised by Krishi Vikas Kendra (KVK) Baramulla in collaboration with the Central Institute of Temperate Horticulture (CITH) Srinagar.
Vice Chairman Kisaan advisory Board Daljeet singh Chib,Deputy commissioner Baramulla, Dr Nasir Ahmad Naqash, Director Agriculture Kashmir, Mission Director Fasal Bima Yojana, , Krishi Vigyan Kendra Baramulla head Dr. Manoj Kumar and various other officers from different departments were present in the Sameelan.
Addressing the gathering that had assembled for the programme, Shri Rupala said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has dedicated himself to improving the living conditions of the farmers of the country and the Union Government under his guidance is working tirelessly to make it a reality.
Shri Rupala said that PMFBY and other agriculture oriented schemes of the Government of India are meant exclusively for the farmers of the country and it is for the first time that the interests of those associated with agriculture are being given such high importance. He added that never before in the history of the country has agricultural insurance been provided to the farmers at rates as low as those in the PMFBY.
Highlighting the potential of the agriculture and horticulture sectors of Jammu and Kashmir, Shri Rupala said that the state government should come forward and present its demands to the Centre. He assured that all possible help will be given to provide a boost to the agricultural and horticultural activities of the state.
He also stressed upon the need for setting up cold storage facilities so that adverse conditions and uncertainties of weather do not lead to farmers’ produce getting wasted.
The minister also talked about the central governments ambitions of setting up e-Mandis in all parts of the country so that farmers can sell their produce throughout India and get a good price for their hard work.
Shri Rupala also said that all KVKs across the country would soon have soil testing laboratories for the benefit of the farmers.
Altaf Ahmad Andrabi, Mission Director, PMFBY J&K said while addressing the gathering that farmer-friendly schemes like those introduced by the present Union government will result in farmer suicides being a thing of the past. He said that agriculture is the main economic activity of the state of J&K and expressed hope that crops which are not included in the PMFBY will be brought under its purview.
Dr Desh Beer Singh, Director CITH also addressed the gathering. He said that CITH works on the mandate of horticulture development in J&K and so far 10 technologies have been developed which have been successfully transferred to the farmers.
The gathering was also addressed by Daljit Singh Chib, Vice Chairman J&K State Advisory Board for Development of Kisans. He said that farmers of Jammu and Kashmir are among the most hardworking and the government is making every effort to minimise the losses incurred by them due to various factors.
Soil health cards and certificates of appreciation were also distributed among some of the agriculturists present at the function.
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