Says development can take place only when there is peace; Infrastructure worth Rs one Lakh Crore coming up in UT, cementing peace biggest priority of Admin; Constitutes committee for setting roadmap for Agriculture, allied sectors

Ganderbal, Jul 19: Jammu and Kashmir’s Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha Monday said that the neighbouring country is trying hard to foment trouble in J&K by hatching conspiracies to provoke security forces to commit a mistake that can fuel street protests but “our forces will never commit any such act.”

Addressing two-day multi-stakeholder convention on holistic development of agriculture & allied sectors in J&K, at Ganderbal district of Central Kashmir, the LG, as per news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), said that for ensuring development, peace is must. “In a place, where there is violence, there can be no development. The administration and the security forces are working hard to make peace a permanent feature in J&K. But some elements, especially our neighbour keep on hatching conspiracies to provoke our security forces so that they commit any mistake that can set base for street protests in Kashmir,” the LG said, adding that “Our security forces will never commit any such act that can set base for street protests in the Valley, no matter how far they would be provoked.”

He said in J&K, an infrastructure worth Rs one lakh Crore is coming up. “For that peace is very imperative,” the LG said. “Our biggest preference is to cement peace in J&K.”

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He said that in the months ahead, a full-fledged Agriculture policy will be framed to promote the sector. “70 per cent of J&K’s population depends on Agriculture and it is our duty to take steps to safeguard and to promote this sector,” the LG said.

The LG said that till April 24, when Prime Minister Narendera Modi visited J&K, a total outside investment was only Rs 38,000 which is all set to reach Rs 70,000 by the year end.

He said that government was focussing on four sectors—Horticulture, Agriculture, Tourism and the local craft. “Local craft that includes paper-machie, crewel, and other crafts need to be promoted,” the LG said.

The LG announced that a high-powered committee of agricultural scientists will be formed under the chairmanship of renowned scientist, Dr. Mangala Rai to prepare a futuristic roadmap for accelerated development of agriculture & allied sectors and making the farming viable, steady and sustainable.

Noting the immense scope of possibilities in harnessing the real potential of agriculture & allied sectors and to make it a strong base of the UT’s economy, the Lt Governor said that the government is focusing on higher investment in agro-based industries. High value crops, greater value addition will provide a boost to this industry. Our prime objective is to double the agriculture & allied sectors’ contribution to GSDP, he added.

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Highlighting the challenge of increasing the income of farmers through growth in Dairy, Fisheries and livestock, the LG advocated a sustained effort for investment in dairy sector to enhance processing of milk from 1.5 lakh litres to 5 lakh litres in the next three years.

“85 per cent farmers have smaller landholdings. Economically viable innovative solutions to enhance productivity of small & marginal farmers are need of the hour. We need to bridge the gap between goals achieved & achievable, we need to strengthen the extension services and quality inputs,” he said.

“We need to increase export while maintaining food security. We need to streamline the farm practices to ensure better incentives to the farmers. We need to streamline value addition technology for food processing, packaging, market outreach and minimize post-harvest wastages,” the LG said. He said that the acceleration of agricultural reforms by PM Modi seems to be bearing fruit; the average farm income has risen, and now J&K figures among top 5 states/UTs. “However, filling the policy vacuum of last many decades in Agriculture sector requires concerted efforts of all stakeholders,” the LG said.