KATHUA, SEPTEMBER 29: Department of Agriculture & Farmers Production, Kathua today distributed Maize and Paddy threshers among 50 elected PRIs at a brief ceremony held here at district headquarters.
Vice Chairman DDC Kathua, Raghu Nandan Singh, who was the Chief Guest on the occasion, gave away 25 Paddy Threshers and 25 Maize threshers to the Sarpanches and panchs of different panchayats halqas of the district to be used by the farming community.
Additional Deputy Commissioner Kathua, Atul Gupta, was the Guest of honour during the programme.
While speaking on the occasion, the Vice Chairman, DDC Kathua Raghu Nandan Singh said that the Government was committed to the welfare of the farming community and taking all measures for their uplift. He said with the functional Panchayat Raj Institutions, Jammu and Kashmir is marching on the development path. He underlined the role of Sarpanches and panches in taking people on board so that maximum benefit of the government schemes shall reach out to the length and breadth of Jammu and Kashmir.
Vice Chairman, DDC Kathua appealed the elected PRI members to avail proper usage of distributed machineries which are being supplied to panchayats so that small farmers of their respective panchayats can do timely threshing of Maize and Paddy crops. He said that machinery provided to Panchayats are their asset which can also generate income by lending it to the needy farmers at nominal rates.
ADC Kathua Atul Gupta said that the farm mechanization is the need of the hour to boost the farmers’ income. “The Sarpanches and Panches are the backbone for the implementation of all the developmental schemes rolled out by the Government, ” he added.
The Chief Agriculture Officer, Sanjeev Rai Gupta said that the farm mechanization is a step towards achieving the Prime Minister’s vision of doubling the farmer’s income. He said that the Threshers and other farming implements are being distributed to the panchayats free of cost under UT Capex scheme. He further disclosed that all 257 panchayats of the district will be provided free of cost threshers to support the farming community. He also threw light on departmental schemes and programmes, appealed farmers to avail the tailor made schemes of the government.
On the occasion, technical Know-how about the cultivation of button mushroom was also imparted to the women PRI members and the women of local WSHGs. A visit to Mushroom DCTC Kathua centre was also arranged for the group to provide practical understanding among the participants.
Area Development Officer (Vegetables) Kathua Manohar Lal Sharma, District Agriculture Officer ( Ext.), Raju Mahajan and other concerned officers and officials were also present.
