Agriculture driving force for economic growth of J

New Delhi, May 29 (UNI) Emphasising that the vision of a prosperous Jammu and Kashmir is founded on its thriving agriculture, Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad today said rapid growth in the sector could be the driving force for the overall economic growth of the state.

''The challenge before us in Jammu and Kashmir is to bring about a major transformation of agriculture so that it results in higher real income for farmers, helps generate employment on a large scale and contributes to the prosperity of the state's economy,'' Mr Azad said in his address at the 53rd meeting of the National Development Council (NDC).

He said during the 18-year-long militancy in the state, the agriculture sector had taken a severe hit as the environment was not conducive to invest.

''The infrastructure to support agriculture and horticulture suffered great damage... but despite that, the farmers continued with agricultural operations,'' he added.

Mr Azad said despite a significant increase in the production levels productivity was still low.

''Agriculture and allied activities --livestock, fisheries provide livelihood and sustenance to almost 65 per cent of the state's population,'' he pointed out.

Outlining strategies that the state Government has devised to promote rapid growth of the sector, the Chief Minister said the main thrust would be on creating conditions for rapid increase in productivity and quality improvements covering a wide range of fruits, vegetables and flowers.

''Incentives for farmers would have to be administered with a view to encourage them to diversify from the current pattern of cereal crops to short product cycle tradeables specific to the diverse agro-climate zones within the state,'' he added.

The state plans to undertake facilitation of a cluster of value chains, he said, adding that the approach would in turn be supported by a hub and ''Spoke Model'' of mandis where fresh produce could be graded, stored, packaged and transported.

Highlighting the areas capable of quick gains, Mr Azad said the government has crafted a project to give incentives to fruit growers to undertake more efficient grading and packaging and urged that the Prime Minister's Reconstruction programme for horticulture sector be applied to the project.

''Air freight, with growing number of flights makes such diversification possible,'' he observed.

He urged the Indian Railways, which is constructing its network in the state, to respond to the need of the agriculture sector for adequate freight capacity to various regions of the country.

Pointing out the lack of infrastructure-- pre-harvest and post harvest-- in the agriculture sector, the Chief Minister said productivity levels of crops are directly affected by the quality of seeds and planting material used by the farmers.

''The current dependence on governmental farmers and orchards has resulted in sub optimal yields in production,'' he added.

Mr Azad said research institutions and extension machinery need to transform from ''gate keepers'' to facilitators of change.

''They have to recognise the multi-disclipinary nature of each innovation and be proactive in promoting collaboration'' he said.

He added that other areas of institutional gap was credit for production and marketing of agriculture products.

''To tide over this gap, the state government is deliberating upon a response to the recommendations of the Vaidynathan Committee on cooperative credit institutions,'' he added.

UNI