Organize KCC fair in all blocks to connect farmers with KCC: Jharkhand CM

Ranchi: “ Agriculture and development of farmers is the top priority of the state government. The government has started many schemes for the farmers and livestock owners. Ensure proper implementation of these schemes,” directed chief minister Hemant Soren review meeting of Agriculture, Animal department on Friday.

Chief minister also sought information about the progress of schemes and works related to Kisan Credit Card (KCC), Livestock Development Scheme, seed-fertilizer distribution, cold storage, lamp packs, work of trade boards and cooperatives, revival of water sources.

The Chief Minister directed to organize KCC melas in all the blocks of the state in different phases so that more and more farmers could be connected with KCC and benefitted from them. He also said that a mechanism should be made for monitoring the number of KCCs issued by the banks every day. The officials told the Chief Minister that the target is to connect 29.38 lakh farmers with KCC in the financial year 2022-23. KCC has been made available to 17.76 lakh farmers.

The Chief Minister said that Kisan Pathshala is an ambitious scheme of the government. It should operate well. Prepare an action plan to give the responsibility of running Kisan Pathshala to progressive farmers. He also directed the officers to take initiative in the direction of providing seeds and other agricultural materials through Kisan Pathshala. At present 17 Kisan Pathshalas have been opened in the state, while the target is to open 50 Kisan Pathshalas in this financial year.

While reviewing the Mukhya Mantri Pashudhan Vikas Yojna, the Chief Minister said that in order to make the farmers and livestock farmers prosperous in rural areas, it is necessary that livestock should be used in a better way. He said that an action plan should be prepared to give the responsibility of rearing animals in the village to animal friends or shepherds. Give them incentive money and it should be monitored regularly.

The Chief Minister told the officers that black marketing of fertilizers should stop at any cost. There should be a strong system to ensure that the farmers do not have shortage of fertilizers. He directed to issue new licenses for distribution of fertilizers. With the increase in the number of fertilizer distributors, farmers will be able to get fertilizer easily.

The Chief Minister said that instead of storing agricultural products, there should be a better arrangement for its market. He stressed on the establishment of agricultural markets so that farmers can easily bring their produce there. Along with this, care should also be taken to ensure that farmers get better price for their produce. He said that an action plan should be prepared to hand over the operation of the warehouses set up by the government to the Marketing Federation.

The Chief Minister said that due to lack of better system of transportation of goods in rural areas, farmers are unable to bring their produce to the market properly. He asked the officers to make arrangements for transport of goods, so that farmers can bring their produce through goods transport on the day of haat-market in rural areas.

The Chief Minister said that there should be proper arrangement of water sources for better crop production. The Chief Minister asked the officials to rejuvenate all the water sources in the state. The officials told the Chief Minister that 1262 ponds are being renovated in the state, out of which 686 have been completed. At the same time, 1038 out of 3729 of deep boring have been renovated.

The Chief Minister said that the cold storages being built in the state should be completed and started soon. The officials informed the Chief Minister that out of 19 cold storages of 5000 MT, the construction work of two has been completed, while 139 of 30 MT and 5 MT have been completed.

The Chief Minister said that a plan should be made to encourage the seed growers in the state. The government will buy the seeds produced by them and it will be distributed among the farmers. He also directed the officers to make Jharkhand Seed Corporation functional.

On this occasion, the Chief Minister inaugurated the single window system of Agriculture Department online. Through this single window, schemes and works related to seeds, cooperatives, fertilizers and pesticides have been linked online.