Face to Face with minister for agriculture /Govt committed for promotion of indigenous Basmati Rice: Hanjura
Thrust is being given to
the promotion of Indigenous Basmati rice under participatory guarantee system for organic certification involving total cost of Rs 33.66 crore for 3 years.
This was stated by the minister for agriculture Ghulam Nabi Lone Hanjura, during his ongoing exclusive interaction with the Young Bites.
Here are the excerpts of his interaction.
Vijay Gupta
VG: Basmati is world renowned variety of Rice, but still the farmers of this crop are struggling hard, why?
GN: The government is committed for the up gradation of the economy of the farmer community, especially for the farmers, who are related with the cultivation of Basmati Rice. In this regard the department had established Rice Cluster at R S Pura and Suchetgarh in Jammu under which thrust is being given to the promotion of Indigenous Basmati rice under participatory guarantee system for organic certification involving total cost of Rs 33.66 crore for 3 years.
On the pattern of Mushk Budji and Basmati (370), the department intends to promote revival of Zag in Karnah and Kamad rice varieties through interventional measures for up scaling their production.
VG: Vegetable cultivation in Chenab region needs government attention, what are your efforts?
GN: For the promotion of vegetable cultivation especially in Chenab Valley and other adjacent areas which have emerged larger producers of vegetables will be given focused attention.
With an objective to popularize latest technological knowhow for enhancing production and productivity of vegetables in identified cluster areas, intensive Vegetable Development clusters in Srinagar, Pulwama, Budgam, Anantnag in Kashmir and Jammu, Kathua in Jammu division would be established with an estimated cost of Rs 10.86 crore.
VG: Distribution of fertilizers is an old pending demand, why?
GN: For bringing transparency in fertilizer distribution, he said that distribution will be rolled out on DBT mode from February, 2018 for which Point of Sale machines have already been distributed to retail and wholesale fertilizer dealers.
With regard to irrigation initiatives taken, the Minister said that the department has drawn up 22 district irrigation plans requiring Rs 14688 crore, and DIPs stands submitted to Ministry of Agriculture GoI for funding.
The Agro Industries Development Corporation is doing well has earned a profit of Rs 1.20 crore by the end of December 2017. It will set up Kisan friendly Petrol Pumps at Lal Mandi, Khunmoh and Bijbehara, he added.
VG: Drugs are big and dangerous for our youth, what you say?
GN: This is very right that the drugs abuse is the emerging menace in the society which has not only shattered the individuals and families but an entire society. We have already lost one generation to violence and now we cannot afford to lose another generation to drug abuse.
There should be a social boycott against those people who are involved in this trade. However, it is also the responsibility of parents to keep a check over their children, so that they could be saved from falling to the prey of such elements.
The government is very keen to divert the attention of our educated and unemployed youth towards the agriculture sector, which is most profitable these days.
I also appeal to the youth to join this sector and enjoy a healthy life.
This was all that the senior PDP leader and agriculture minister Ghulam Nabi Lone Hanjura, wanted to say about himself and his department. Next time we will be here again with some another personality, till good bye.