Pro-farmers policies under Atma Nirbhar Bharat bound to boost farm sector: Navin

Samba: Principal Secretary, Agriculture, Horticulture, Animal & Sheep Husbandry and Cooperative Departments, Navin Kumar Choudhary today said that the pro-farmers policies launched under Atma Nirbhar Bharat initiative will prove a real game changer in the economic uplift of the farmers.
Addressing locals at Panchayat Taloor in Sumb block of Samba district during a Jan Abhiyan Programme, the Principal Secretary said that the Central schemes like PM-Kissan, Kissan Credit Card, PMAY, Farm machinery subsidy, Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana (PMKSY), E-National Agriculture Market besides other schemes are bound to give new direction to the farm sector. He said the farmers can avail Rs 1.60 lakh guarantee free bank loan under KCC and advised them to switch to integrated farming, use Hybrid seeds to grow cash crops like fodder crops, bamboo, mushrooms, Aloe Vera and others in addition to the food crops. He also informed farmers about the provision of subsidy on the purchase of farm machinery from the market.
Responding to the local demands, the Principal Secretary sanctioned a new Beetal Sheep breed variety for the Block Sumb, 02 borewells per panchayat, an aloe vera processing unit, field visit for Lemon Grass unit study, a refrigerator van for agriculture produce transportation and 5 tractors for backward areas of Sumb block. He directed district administration to identify land for opening kiosks along highways and interior roads for sale of locally grown farm produce by the farmers as it will encourage local agriculture economy.
Earlier, the Block Development Council Chairman, Sarpanchs and panchs projected various issues faced by the locals and demanded better road connectivity & maintenance of the road, improvement in power supply scenario, water availability, clearance of MGNREGA liabilities, sheep breed introduction, borewell, and others to which visiting officer gave a patient hearing and also readdressed most of them on the spot.
During the Jan Abhiyan Programme Director Horticulture, Ram Sevak; Director Animal Husbandry, Vivek Sharma; Deputy Director Agriculture, K K Sharma, besides heads of fisheries, agriculture, SKUAST-KVK, and other allied departments disseminated information about the various schemes for the farmers.
Vote of thanks was presented by Additional District Development Commissioner, Rachana Sharma.