Build rapport with farmers: Dulloo to officers

Jammu, Aug 5: Additional Chief Secretary (ACS), Agriculture Production Department, Atal Dulloo chaired a meeting to discuss agriculture extension strategies with Vice Chancellors of SKUAST-J and SKUAST-K at the Civil Secretariat today.
Vice Chancellor SKUAST-J, Prof JP Sharma gave exhaustive presentation on the status of agriculture, its allied sectors and its various aspects and discussed ways for its overhaul in Jammu & Kashmir. Similarly, a presentation of SKUAST-K was also presented to the ACS.
Upon detailed discussions with the Vice Chancellors and senior officers of agriculture and horticulture departments, the ACS said that areas of intervention by the government have been identified in a conference held recently at SKICC Srinagar. An Apex Level Committee is also being constituted in this regard, he informed.
The ACS said that the goal of agriculture extension activities is to increase farmers’ income and to bridge the gap between the community and the administration. Another objective is to promote secondary agriculture activities, crop diversification, promotion of different crop varieties and generating awareness about governmental insurance schemes and subsidies, he added.
The ACS called for setting quantifiable goals, identifying key messages to be delivered and chart out distinct and for formulating definitive strategy for each and every district. Stress was also laid on building rapport with farmers through consistent contact with the farmers and regular redressal of their grievances.
Atal Dulloo called for identifying district-specific crops for diversified farming. He suggested that specified advice on crop diversification and crop variety be given to the farmers for their productivity gains.
The ACS remarked that there is a general lack of awareness about governmental schemes among some farmers. Attention needs to be paid in this regard as well, the ACS said and added that key messages need to be delivered strategically to them.
Atal Dulloo called for creating good quality films on success stories and other relevant topics for the farmers and to broadcast them through Krishi Darshan, panchayat-wise shows and other appropriate media. The officers to advised to promote role and benefit of facilities like CA stores, pack houses, milk processing, ripening chambers etc.
The ACS concluded by laying emphasis on routine grievance redressal by the officers of the department.
Director Agriculture Jammu, KK Sharma; Director Horticulture Jammu, Ram Savak, Director Extension Jammu, Gupta among other officers participated in the meeting. Officers from Kashmir participated virtually.