A seminar on “An initiative by Hon’ble Prime Minister- Building a New India: Pledge to Double Farmers’ Income by 2022”.
A seminar on “An initiative by Hon’ble Prime Minister- Building a New India: Pledge to Double Farmers’ Income by 2022”.
Jammu (June 30, 2018)
A seminar on “An initiative by Hon’ble Prime Minister- Building a New India: Pledge
to Double Farmers’ Income by 2022” was organized by Indian Institute of Public
Administration, J&K Regional Branch on June 30, 2018. The programme was attended by
progressive farmers from various districts of Jammu Division, Bankers, agricultural scientist
from SKUAST, officers from Agriculture department and IIPA Members.
Dr Pardeep K Sharma, Vice Chancellor, SKUAST Jammu, who was the Chief Guest,
highlighted that India being an agrarian economy the farming sector has to be strengthened
through reforms. He lamented that the youth were not interested in pursuing agriculture as a
career but simultaneously “New Age Farmers” from Non agriculture background are turning
towards agri-entrepreneurship. He emphasized on the need for extensive marketing and
integrated approach for agriculture development and favored the creation of a Nodal agency
to achieve optimum results in Agriculture and allied sector.
Director Agriculture Jammu Shri H K Razdan, who was the Guest of Honour, recounted the
reforms and performance of Agriculture Department and lauded the farmers of the state for
a significant increase in the agriculture production. He favored reforms on ground level in
farm practices including proper use of irrigation and use of quality seeds which will help in
doubling the income of farmers.
In his presidential remarks Dr. Ashok Bhan, Former DGP and Patron IIPA J&K Regional
Branch highlighted the role of Agriculture and allied sector in the Indian economy. He
termed the farmers suicides as unfortunate. The stress among the farming community and
the reduction in contribution of Agriculture to the GDP urgently require reforms which can
lead to doubling the income of farmers from an average of Rs 96,703 per household in
2015-16 to Rs 2,19,724 by 2022-23.. Dr Bhan citing a World Bank report said that the work
force for Agriculture in India will shrink from the current over 50 per cent of the population
to 25.7 per cent in 2050. He cautioned that we must prepare to meet this challenge.
Earlier, Dr C.M.Seth, IFS (Retd) Vice Chairman IIPA J&K Regional Branch welcomed the
participants and introduced the theme. Dr Ashwani Jojra, Assistant Project Officer,
Agriculture Department, deliberated on the role of Department of Agriculture in achieving
the pledge to double the income of farmers by 2022. Rakesh Badyal, KAS, Additional
Secretary, Department of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, J&K spoke about the
schemes implemented by Rural Development Department. He elaborated on MGNREGA,
PM AWAS Yogna, Swatch Bharat Mission, and Umeed.
Dr Dalip Kachroo, Registrar SKUAST Jammu presented a model for Integrated Farming
System developed by the university. Chander Mohan, Deputy Director (Retd) Agriculture
Department focused on achieving goals of Gram Swarajya and make rural areas self reliant.
Aman Kalsotra, AGM NABARD spoke about the interventions by NABARD and discussed
how the incomes of the farmers could be increased. Lead bank Officer from SBI Bhupinder
Singh while discussing the role of banks in agriculture development, assured the best
possible support in agriculture development so as to achieve the mission by 2022.
The IIPA newsletter was also released on this occasion.
The participants, particularly the farmers, raised a number of issues with the panelists
leading to a lively interaction. Er. V.N.Sharma presented the formal vote of thanks Seminar
was organized under the guidance of Er J.B.S.Johar, Hony Secretary IIPA J&K Regional
Branch.
