KV Network

Achievement needs applaud

Achievement needs applaud
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Among all State and UTs, Jammu and Kashmir is the 3rd rank holder in monthly income to agriculture households and 5th best performing UT in Agriculture and Allied Sector. This feat has been achieved despite the region being a hilly zone where cultivable land is far less compared to the plains.
Notably, the Horticulture sector alone in Jammu and Kashmir employs 27% of the population and contributes to 8% to the State GDP, besides enormously contributing to carbon sequestration through 7.6 Crore trees. The achievements in the agriculture and horticulture sectors needs an applause and support as well for its continuity.
Right now the government is implementing a 3-pronged strategy of enhancing yield, storage capacity, and marketing so that the sector witnesses further improvement in terms of productivity and yield.
The farmers and growers too have been encouraged to shift to high-density plantation with a potential of yielding an annual harvest of 50 MT of apple and 5 MT each of Almond and Walnut. Additionally, large-scale production of high-density plantation rootstock is also being promoted through local private entrepreneurs to reduce input costs.
The agricultural and other related activities can witness further boost if horticulture is promoted in the Kandi belt of Jammu region and plantation of other varieties is undertaken so that the unproductive land could also be utilized to generate income for the growers and land owners.
Interestingly, a 25% upfront subsidy on air transportation of identified perishables is being provided by the government under the Parvaaz Scheme and efforts are afoot to integrate the agricultural market with the e-Nam.
Since the agricultural output is bound to increase the administration needs to plan accordingly and the produce is provided appropriate storage with minimal wastage. For this the expeditious establishment of controlled atmosphere storage facilities in Jammu and Kashmir should be taken up on priority and new units need to be promoted to achieve the desired results.
Given the present growth in the agriculture and horticulture sectors a cumulative capacity of 5 lakh MT cold storage facility needs to be put in place. Though some 80,000 MT of capacity is to be established by March 2022 and an additional 1 lakh MT per year for the next 3 years, the scheme needs a further push so that the set targets are achieved.
Agricultural output can further witness a boost if modern sowing and harvesting activities through technological interventions and use of vermicomposting techniques is introduced and followed in letter and spirit.
Besides, improving the quality of the produce too needs to be taken up on fast track basis and the region needs to establish organic testing and certification institutions for ascertaining the quality of agro-products.
Notably, under the National Mission for Agriculture Extension and Technology, focused intervention is being ensured for farm mechanization, seed replacement, and capacity building through sub-missions on agriculture mechanization (SMAM), seed and planting material (SMSP) and agricultural extension (SMAE), this will ensure a sustained growth achievement and will keep the farmers interest alive in carrying out the activities with a renewed hope.

 


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