STATE TIMES NEWS
SRINAGAR: Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha on Friday said that the atrocities of Pakistan against the people of Jammu and Kashmir have been exposed to the world.
e-inaugurates Jashn-e-Zafraan
SRINAGAR: Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha today e-inaugurated the “Jashn-e-Zafraan”, Harvesting Saffron, in presence of Kailash Choudhary, Union Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare.
Speaking on the occasion, the Lt Governor observed that it is due to farmer-centric policies of the Government that the income of the Saffron farmers in Jammu and Kashmir in 2021 has doubled, a year before the deadline.
He pointed out to the recent data of the National Statistical Survey which shows that after Meghalaya, Punjab, Haryana and Arunachal Pradesh, the farmers of Jammu and Kashmir have the highest monthly income of Rs 18,918, way above the national average of Rs 10,218. The Lt Governor expressed his heartfelt gratitude to Prime Minister for systematically improving the entire chain from farm to retail marketing, bringing a huge change in the lives of farmers from Kashmir to Kanyakumari.
The Lt Governor noted that in 2016, Prime Minister had started a revolutionary change in agriculture and horticulture. It is the result of various interventions of the PM that today the income of J&K farmers is at the fifth position in the whole country and 46% higher than the national average.
“98% of those agricultural households who had sought technical advice from various institutions of our Agriculture Department have further strengthened the process of reforms in farming sector by adopting those techniques”, he added.
Referring to the Prime Minister’s interaction with progressive saffron farmer Abdul Majeed Wani, the Lt Governor said that the farmer-welfare initiatives and introduction of affordable new technologies with incentives has made their farming way better.
The Lt Governor said that the increase in saffron production from 2.5 Kg per hectare to 5 kg per hectare will motivate farmers of other agriculture and allied sectors to increase their production taking maximum benefit of various agriculture development schemes of the Central and UT government.
The Lt Governor said that after the tireless efforts of the central government last year, Saffron got the Geographical Indication Tag and paved way for it to become a powerful brand in the international market.
He observed that when J&K’s Saffron was launched in Dubai last year after getting the GI tag, it received very encouraging results. Now not only exports will increase, but the Pampore Trading Center built under the vision of the Prime Minister will make it easier for the Saffron farmers to sell it in other parts of the country as well, he said.
“NAFED, which is working with the UT Government on high density plantations, will sell Saffron from Jammu and Kashmir across the country. Farmers of Pulwama, Budgam and Kishtwar will get huge relief by this and now instead of doubling the farmers’ income, we aim to increase it three times”, he added.
On the occasion the Lt Governor said that the cultivation of Saffron cannot be imagined without J&K’s Nari Shakti. Our mothers and sisters have always played a significant role in the growth of Saffron production in Jammu and Kashmir.
The Lt Governor stressed on organizing regular buyer-seller meets by the Agriculture Production & Farmers Welfare Department so that maximum profits of farmers’ hard work can be ensured by creating marketing linkages across the country.
The Lt Governor also expressed gratitude towards Narendra Singh Tomar, Union Minister of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare for his initiative to connect the farmers of J&K UT with high density plantation.
The Lt Governor underscored the significance of Soil health cards in monitoring soil fertility of farmers’ land. He also stressed on the registration of all the farmers under Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana.
The Lt Governor said that founding fathers of the nation and great policy makers had anticipated the Agriculture sector’s potential for change and progress in society even before independence. It is the result of years of hard work of farmers that today a different form and beneficial structure of agriculture is before us.
“Educated people, doctors, engineers have also started seeing agriculture as an alternative profession. This movement of farming, I believe, has proved to be a boon for our country”, concluded the Lt Governor.
Kailash Choudhary, MoS for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, on the occasion of Jashn-e-Zafraan said that under the vision of PM Saffron of Jammu Kashmir would reach every corner of the world. He stressed on the use of quality seed, cold storage facilities and best marketing linkages facilities provided by the government.
He also spoke on the provision of easy financial assistance to farmers under Agriculture Infrastructure Fund and benefits under various Agriculture sector schemes for the welfare of farmers.
While speaking on the occasion, Farooq Khan, Advisor to Lt Governor said that while production of Saffron has increased significantly and income of farmers has been increased to two to three times, adding that this breakthrough and unprecedented achievement could not have been possible without the support of Government of India.
Navin Kumar Choudhary, Principal Secretary, Agriculture Production & Farmers Welfare gave a detailed brief of the various activities which were organized during the Jashn-e-Zafraan festival which include display stalls by agriculture department, buyer-seller meets, technical session and awareness on Marketing of farmers’ produce.
Prof JP Sharma, VC SKUAST-Kashmir; Baseer ul Haq, DC Pulwama,; Chowdhary Mohammad Iqbal, Director, Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare; Mohd Yousuf, SSP Pulwama; officers of UT administration; buyers from different parts of the country, exporters and large numbers of farmers were present on the occasion.
“The wound of Pakistani terror attack is still fresh. October 22 is a reminder of Pakistan’s atrocities and will always remain a black day, not just for the people of J&K but for the entire humanity”, the Lt Governor noted while paying homage to all the brave soldiers and civilians who were martyred in the October 1947 terror attack by Pakistan army which disguised as Pashtun Tribals.
Speaking during a seminar on “Memories of 22 October, 1947” at SKICC, the Lt Governor stressed the need to reach out to the young generation with the stories of valour and sacrifices of brave-hearts like Brig. Rajinder Singh, Maqbool Sherwani, Chief of Women’s Self Defence Corps Kanta Wazir, and other unsung heroes.
Our youth must know how Brigadier Rajinder Singh, with a handful of soldiers, fought the Pakistani tribesmen, sacrificing his life to save Kashmir and Kashmiriyat. They must be educated about Baramulla’s young man Maqbool Sherwani who resisted the Pakistani tribes and sacrificed his life and courage shown by groups of Kashmiri people to push back Pakistani militia, said the Lt Governor.
There is a need to remind the elderly and the younger generations about how Pakistan is killing our people and trying to divide us by disrupting communal harmony in Jammu & Kashmir, he added.
The Lt Governor asked the young generation to take inspiration from the sacrifice of Param Vir Chakra Awardee Major Somnath Sharma. To save innocent lives in Srinagar and Budgam, despite being heavily outnumbered, he along with his soldiers fought the Pakistani invaders and made supreme sacrifice.
The Lt Governor quoted Major Somnath’s last message- “The enemy is only 50 yards from us. We are heavily outnumbered. We are under devastating fire. I shall not withdraw an inch but will fight to the last man and the last round”.
This is the passion and love of our immortal heroes towards the motherland, protecting every inch of the land by putting their lives at stake, said the Lt Governor.
Sometimes it becomes necessary to turn the pages of history for the betterment of the present and future. As our great nation is celebrating 75th anniversary of Independence Day “Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav”, we had decided to name institutions and roads after all such great personalities who have contributed to upholding the unity and integrity of Jammu and Kashmir, and the Lt Governor observed.
Under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Jammu and Kashmir has embarked on the journey of progress and prosperity. We must unite to defeat the evil designs of the enemies. There will be challenges, but we will face them firmly and come out victorious, the Lt Governor added.
Prominent citizens from all walks of life, and large number of youth were present on the occasion.