Govt constitutes UT level apex committee for framing comprehensive Agriculture Policy

Srinagar, Aug 31: Government has constituted a Union Territory Level Apex Committee (UTLAC), for framing a comprehensive Agriculture Policy for holistic development of Agriculture and Allied Sectors in UT of J&K.
As per order, Dr. Mangla Rai, Former D.G. ICAR will be chairman of the committee while as Dr. Ashok Dalwal, Chief Executive Officer, National Rainfed Area Authority, GoI, Shri Atal Dulloo, IAS, Financial Commissioner (Additional Chief Secretary), Agriculture Production Department, Dr. P.K. Joshi, Secretary, National Academy of Agriculture Sciences,Pusa New Delhi, Dr. Prabhat Kumar, Horticulture Commissioner, Agriculture & Farmers Welfare Department, Dr. H.S Gupta, Former Director IARI and Dr. J.P. Sharma, Vice Chancellor, SKUAST-Jammu will be members of the committee and Dr. Nazir Ahmad Ganai, Vice Chancellor SKUAST-Kashmir will be member Secretary of the committee.
The objectives of the Committee will be transforming subsistence agriculture to sustainable agri-economy through investment of knowledge, technology and capital.
The goals and targets for next 5 years will be doubling contribution of Agri-GDP in next 5 years from $4 billion to $8 billion, meeting 100% SRR with quality seeds, by building seed multiplication chains in PPP or through private entrepreneurships, Double resource use efficiency from 30% to 60% in respect of nutrients and moisture by bringing in advanced technologies. Reducing food waste to 1/3 (10%) through proper post-harvest management by building suitable infrastructure (CA stores, pack houses, refrigerated transport) and food processing Triple food processing from 5 to 15% by focus on secondary agriculture, Build capacity to meet the requirements of the quality planting material, Establish 300 functional and profitable FPOs in 20 districts of J&K, Avail Agriculture Infrastructure Fund of 900 crore reserved by Gol for UT of J&K, Vocational skill trainings in to 2000 youth annually for next 5 years, Build state Data banks using artificial intelligence and ICT tools for Apple, dairy and small ruminants in next 5 years and reduce the use of agro-chemicals by 25% in next 5 years.
The terms of reference of the Committee shall direct & monitor the timely working of the Technical Working Groups (TWGS) and would act as a strategic advisory committee at the apex level, the Committee shall meet either physically or virtually for drawing the broader contours of strategic roadmap for the growth and development of agriculture in different activities on which the respective domain TWGS shall work upon, the Committee shall also hold meetings with the TWGS either in physical or virtual mode for discussing & finalizing the programs/schemes/activities in respective working group domains, the Committee shall act as supreme authority for passing the final policy recommendations to the Government of Jammu & Kashmir after due consultations and discussions with the TWGs, the Committee shall also look the convergence of programs and schemes across various TWGS for overall effectiveness of the policy recommendations and the Committee shall submit the policy recommendation within a period of four months. (KNO)