Additional Chief Secretary (ACS), Agricultural Production Department (APD), Atal Dulloo chaired a meeting today to review the physical achievements of agriculture and related sectors under CAPEX, schemes sponsored by the center (CSS) and NABARD.

Director General of Development of Jammu Command Area, Director General of Agro Industries Development Corporation Limited, Director of Sericulture J&K, Director of Agriculture of Kashmir/Jammu, Director of Zone Development Kashmir Command, ODA Finance/Planning Director, SKUAST representatives and other relevant persons attended the meeting in person and virtually.

At the start, the Director of Agriculture of Kashmir gave a presentation on the approved spending plan under the CAPEX budget of Agriculture and Allied Departments for the year 2022-23.

The meeting was informed that out of the approved expenditure of Rs 135.56 crore, Rs 54.23 crore has even been released for eight departments allied to the agricultural sector.

The ACS discussed the judicious distribution of subsidies for the purchase of agricultural machinery, equipment, etc. for the two divisions of Kashmir and Jammu.

Similarly, during the meeting, it was announced that Rs 30.43 crore has been approved for seed/seedling and area expansion under CAPEX

The meeting also held a threadbare discussion on the main objectives and achievements for the year 2022-23 under CAPEX.

In addition, the meeting had a detailed overview of components regarding diversification, quality control, agricultural machinery, soil health management, farmer welfare programs, marketing, protected cultivation and cumulative achievements under these subheadings.

The meeting was also briefed on the budgetary expenditure of the Sericulture Department, which comprises Rs 9.74 crore, of which Rs 3 crore has been released for the year 2022-23 under CAPEX.

He also discussed the approved expenditures of Agro Industries Development Corporation Limited, Command Area Development Jammu/Kashmir, SKAUST-Kashmir/Jammu and the release of funds and physical achievements under the CAPEX budget.

In addition, ACS was notified of approved expenditures under various CSS including RKVY, NMSA, NEGA, PMFBY, NMAET, NFSM, PMKSY, Silk Samara and Bamboo Mission. It has been reported that an approved expenditure of Rs 696.38 crore has been approved.

The meeting gave a detailed overview in addition to the physical achievements of all eight allied agriculture sectors under CSS.

Later, the meeting held a threadbare discussion of expenditures approved under NABARD and funds released.

While summing up the meeting, Dulloo asked the officers involved to focus more on accomplishments and said that all targets and physical accomplishments must be met within the time frame.

He asked SKAUST to consult with all stakeholders such as the Kisan advisory board and heads of departments involved in research and development projects.

He requested the concerned Heads of Delegations to submit all CUs and activate Nodal Agents for new proposals to be sent to the Government of India while setting up a week to submit all pending CUs and requested those concerned to vigorously pursue the NABARD projects.

Meanwhile, in another meeting, ACS reviewed the status of physical achievements under the CAPEX, CSS and NABARD of the Department of Animal Husbandry and Fisheries and sheep.

Jammu/Kashmir Animal Husbandry Manager, Jammu/Kashmir Sheep Husbandry Manager, J&K Fisheries Manager and other concerned persons attended the meeting in person and via video conference from Jammu.

The meeting discussed in detail different SSCs like Rashtriya Gokul Mission, Assistance to States for Animal Disease Control Programs 2022 2, National Animal Disease Control Program (NADC) FMD Annual Action Plan, mobile veterinary units, the NLM, etc.

The meeting discussed the wise physical achievements of the components of the departments with respect to the allocation and the funds released and the cumulative expenditure so far.