Principal Secretary reviews performance of Horticulture, livestock sectors under current annual plan

Jammu: Principal Secretary, Horticulture Department, Navin K Choudhary, today chaired a meeting to review the revised Budget Estimates 2020-21 and formulation of Budget for the year 2021-22 in respect of Horticulture Sector of Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
The Principal Secretary stressed on preparation of outcome oriented Budget for the next year so that proposed expenditure is utilised purposefully. He advised the Heads of Departments to reflect the Budget Head properly and modify the nomenclature wherever necessary.
The Budget proposals were discussed component-wise and certain modifications were suggested which needs to be incorporated. Further the stress was laid on to ensure maximum expenditure of the released funds within next week.
While discussing the CAPEX Budget, the Principal Secretary laid emphasis on development of Horticulture nurseries both in public and private sectors.
“The Budget shall be inclined towards uplift of orchardists of both Divisions by allocation of funds for plantation support resulting in increase of potential area under fruit crop,” he directed.
He further called for laying special focus on processing and value addition of fruits besides exploring marketing facilities for the orchardists. He stressed that there shall be special provision for upgrading of Horticulture infrastructure with emphasis on promotion of cash crops like strawberry and area expansion under high density plantation.
The meeting was attended by Director Horticulture, Jammu, Ram Savak; Director Horticulture Planning and Marketing, J&K, Imam Din; Dy. Director Horticulture (Central), Jammu, Shafiqa Khalid; Dy. Director (P&S), Horticulture Department, Jammu, Ankita Sharma and others.
Director Horticulture Kashmir, Ajaz Ahmed Bhat; Managing Director, JKHPMC, Shafat Sultan; Additional Secretary, Horticulture Department, Jahangir Hashmi; Assistant Director, Horticulture Department, Kashmir
Vinay Dutta and others attended the meeting through video conference.
Later, the Principal Secretary, chaired a meeting to review the CAPEX/revenue Budget of Animal/Sheep Husbandry & Fisheries sector in Civil Secretariat Jammu.
The meeting was attended by Director Planning, ASH, Director Animal Husbandry Jammu, Joint Director Sheep Husbandry Jammu & other officers of the Department. Director Finance, ASHF, Director Animal Husbandry Kashmir, Director Sheep Husbandry Kashmir, Director Fisheries J&K and others participated in the meeting through video conferencing.
The Principal Secretary, while reviewing department wise development activities, emphasized that related activities must be clubbed in both CAPEX & revenue to avoid confusion. He further directed to go for change in budget heads, if required. He also instructed the officers to include purchase of drugs & vaccines under revenue budget henceforth. He instructed the officers to submit the budget estimates afresh on 9th Oct with revised expenditure for approval of the CAPEX/Revenue budget 2020-21 & 2021-22.