In a significant step towards bolstering the agricultural sector in Jammu and Kashmir, Shailendra Kumar, the Principal Secretary of the Agriculture Production Department (APD), led a comprehensive review meeting on the implementation of various credit-linked schemes designed to support farmers across the union territory.
The meeting, which saw a detailed examination of schemes such as the Holistic Agriculture Development Program (HADP) loan Product, Agri Infrastructure Fund Scheme (AIF), Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund (AHIDF), Pradhan Mantri Formalization of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFMPE), High Density Plantation (HDP) scheme, Kissan Credit Card (KCC), and Rashtriya Gokul Mission (RGM), aimed at enhancing the synergy between bankers, concerned officers, and the agriculture department for better delivery of benefits to the farming community.
Kumar emphasized the importance of simplifying the sanctioning and disbursement processes to ensure minimal rejections and effective hand-holding for prospective borrowers. He advocated for the disposal of pending cases on an urgent basis and the development of quality Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) by utilizing technically qualified resources.
Furthermore, Kumar directed efforts towards increasing the number of PM Fasal Yojana beneficiaries to achieve the set targets fully.The Principal Secretary also stressed the need for the agriculture departments to educate farmers about the benefits of Fasal Bima Yajana and other schemes aimed at their socio-economic empowerment. He urged for mission-mode coverage of all eligible farmers under these schemes and highlighted the necessity of addressing pending cases within departmental units promptly.Concerns were raised regarding the underperformance of certain districts, prompting Kumar to issue strict directives for improving their operational efficiency to meet the established goals.
The meeting was well-attended by senior officials from various departments, including the Mission Director of HADP, Director of J&K Bank Limited, Chief General Manager of NABARD in J&K, and directors of several departments involved in agriculture and animal husbandry, both in person and virtually. This gathering underscored the administration's commitment to advancing agricultural development and farmer welfare in Jammu and Kashmir through improved access to credit and support services.