ACS chairs SLTC meeting regarding approval for SoF of Agriculture, Horticulture Crops for 2023-24

JAMMU, April 12: Additional Chief Secretary (ACS), Agriculture Production Department,  Atal Dullo, today chaired a meeting of State Level Technical Committee (SLTC) regarding approval for Scale of Finance (SoF) of different Agriculture and Horticulture Crops for the year 2023-24 here at Civil Secretariat.

ACS held a threadbare deliberation on all related aspects of each line department with regard to finalization of Scale of Finance as per cost of cultivation for all the KCC crops including Horticulture Crops/KCC Animal Husbandry, Sheep Husbandry, Fisheries and Floriculture activities in Srinagar district to extend the KCC facility to the farmers.

After detailed discussion on existing and proposed Scale of Finance (SOF) for various KCC Crops and allied activities, the SLTC finalized SoF of different Agriculture and Horticulture crops for Kissan Credit Card (KCC) holders of J&K districts under different crops including Cereals, Vegetables, Pulses, Rapeseed, Mustard/Potato, Fodder, Spices, Plantation (Sericulture, Floriculture), Animal/ Sheep Husbandry, Poultry, Fisheries etc.

During the meeting, it was proposed to increase 10% Scale of Finance (SOF) in Agriculture, 10% in Horticulture and 10 % under Animal/Sheep Husbandry.

Similarly, increased SOF was also proposed under Fisheries, Floriculture and other allied sectors for year 2023-24.

Addressing the meeting, Atal Dullo said that fixation of finance for agricultural and allied activities shall help the farmers of the district to take maximum advantage of various types of free credit in a hassle-free manner. He also said that the fixation of finance shall also create employment opportunities in the District through Agricultural Entrepreneur activities.

He also stressed on active involvement of all the stakeholders in arriving at proper scales of finance and the necessity of accurate field data. He stressed the need for close coordination among all stakeholders to ensure adequate and timely credit flow to the farmers.

Secretary in Agriculture Production Department, Registrar Cooperative Societies J&K, Director General Planning APD, Special Secretary (BR/R/F/TK) APD, Director Finance APD, Director Horticulture P&M, Director Agriculture, Director Horticulture, Director Animal Husbandry, Director Sheep Husbandry, Director Fisheries, Director Sericulture, Director Floriculture, CGM NABARD Jammu, President/Convener UTLBC, Regional Director RBI Jammu, representatives from SKUAST and Additional MD, State Cooperative Bank (Convener SLTC) were present in the meeting.

Later, ACS chaired a procurement plan review meeting under Holistic Agriculture Development Plan (HADP).