A farmer sprinkles pesticides inside his vegetable field in the outskirts of Srinagar | KO Photo, Abid Bhat
Srinagar- With a goal to ‘double’ contribution of Agri-GDP in next 5 years, government on Tuesday constituted UT Level Apex Committee (UTLAC) for framing a “comprehensive Agriculture Policy” for holistic development of farm and allied sectors in Jammu and Kashmir.
Headed by Dr. Mangla Rai, Former D.G. ICAR, the government has spelt the “objective” of transforming subsistence agriculture to sustainable agri-economy for the panel whose members include Dr. Ashok Dalwai, Chief Executive Officer National Rainfed Area Authority, GoI; Atal Dulloo (IAS), Financial Commissioner (Additional Chief Secretary),Agriculture Production Department; Dr. P.K. Joshi, Secretary, National Academy of Agriculture Sciences,Pusa New Delhi; Dr. Prabhat Kumar,Horticulture Commissioner, Agriculture & Farmers Welfare Department; Dr. H.S Gupta, Former Director IARI Dr. J.P. Sharma, Vice Chancellor, SKUAST-Jammu, and Dr. Nazir Ahmad Ganai, Vice Chancellor SKUAST-Kashmir (Member secretary).
The Committee has been asked to direct and monitor the timely working of the Technical Working Groups (TWGs) and said that it would act as a strategic advisory committee at the apex level. “The Committee shall meet either physically or virtually for drawing the broader contours of strategic roadmap for the growth and development of agriculture in different activities on which the respective domain TWGs shall work upon.” The Committee, it said, shall also hold meetings with the TWGs either in physical or virtual mode for discussing & finalizing the programs/schemes/activittes in respective working group domains.
The Committee shall act as supreme authority for passing the final policy recommendations to the Government of Jammu & Kashmir after due consultations and discussions with the TWGs, the order, a copy of which lies with GNS reads. “The Committee shall also look the convergence of programs and schemes across various TWGS for overall effectiveness of the ) policy recommendations.”
The Committee, it said, shall submit the policy recommendation within a period of four months.
The government has mentioned “goals and targets for next 5 years” and among others includes doubling contribution of Agri-GDP in next 5 years from $4 billion to $8 billion. Other goals include meeting 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 by bringing in advanced technologies.
Also goals include reducing food waste to 1/3 (10%) through proper post-harvest management by building suitable infrastructure (CA stores, pack houses, refrigerated transport) and food processing; triple food processing from 5 to 15% by focus on secondary agriculture. Build capacity to meet the requirements of the quality planting material and establishing 300 functional and profitable FPOs in 20 districts of J&K. besides, the goals include availing Agriculture Infrastructure Fund of 900 crore reserved by Gol for UT of J&K, vocational skill trainings in to 2000 youth annually for next 5 years and building state Data banks using artificial intelligence and ICT tools for Apple, dairy and small ruminants in next 5 years and reducing the use of agro-chemicals by 25% in next 5 years.
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