Kissan Mela 2018

Governor N N Vohra, Chancellor of the Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Jammu (SKUAST-J) along with Gulam Nabi Lone Hanjura, Minister for Agriculture Production and Daljit Singh Chib, Vice-Chairman, J&K State Advisory Board for Development of Kisans (JK SABDK), inaugurated a two day “Kisan Mela” at the Chatha campus of the university today. The Governor visited the livestock show which has been jointly set up by the livestock owners and the university and appreciated this effort. The Governor also visited the exhibitions and stalls set up at the Mela by agricultural universities from other states, national institutes, agriculture and allied development departments of the state, banks, seed and plant protection industry, and different departments and the research centres of the university. N N Vohra in his address to the large gathering of farmers from all over Jammu region, scientist and officers of the agriculture and allied departments laid emphasis on making the state net exporter of animal products. He said, “The state’s import bill of meat, poultry and eggs is approximately Rs. 2,300 crores and the university and development departments should draw a roadmap for making the state exporter of these products. The state is exporting apple and dry fruits worth Rs. 7,500 crores annually, and same target should be set up for export of meat and meat products” Governor agreed with the suggestion of Gulam Nabi Lone minister for agriculture production that Kisan Melas should be organized at district level, for that the development departments and the university should formulate annual calendar for organizing Kisan Melas at district level. He appreciated the work done by the university in making technological breakthroughs for enhancing the on-farm income of small-scale farm households in the state. The highest farm household on-farm income is in Punjab at Rs. 16,349 per month compared to national average of Rs. 3,350 per month. The farm income is meagre, and doubling farmers' income by 2022 is a challenge in the Green Revolution areas compared to states like Bihar where per household monthly income is merely Rs. 1,904 per month. In the state of J&K, the gross average onfarm income per farm household is Rs 77,623 per annum which comes to Rs. 6,469 per month. To double the farm income and realize the targets set by the Prime Minister the theme of the Kisan Mela is “Technology Driven Agriculture for Doubling Farmers' Income” Around 5000 farmers thronged the Kisan Mela on day one. The technological innovations by the public sector research institutes and universities. The private sector pesticide industry displayed different products for control of weeds, diseases and insects/ pests and plant growth regulators. Gulam Nabi Lone Hanjura, Minister for Agriculture Development said in his address that they have prepared a policy paper for the cold chain for vegetables so that the farmers get remunerative prices for their produce. He said that setting of procurement centres of paddy by the department curtailed the distress sale and provided a good price of Rs. 1,450 per quintal of paddy to the farmers. Daljit Singh Chib, Vice Chairman JKSABDK apprised the farmers about enhancing the budgetary allocation to agriculture by the central and state governments. The decision to provide 50% over the cost of production by the central government will go a long way in increasing the on-farm income of farm families. Dr. Pradeep K. Sharma, Vice-Chancellor SKUAST-J presented the welcome address and appreciated the guidance and support of the governor and state government in running the university. He said if the technologies developed by the university are adopted by the farmers, there is no reason to doubt that the farm income will not double in this decade. The vote of thanks was given by Dr. K. S. Risam, Director Extension, SKUAST-J and he thanked the Chancellor, the Minister and Vice Chairman JKSABDK and above all the farmers who had thronged the Mela in large number.