Jammu Tawi, December 21: Three new schemes, Holistic Development of
Agriculture & Allied Sectors, Aspirational Towns Development Programme and
Aspirational Panchayat Development Programme were announced by the
Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha today. These projects have been approved by
the Administrative Council, chaired by the Lt Governor.
Scheme 1 : Holistic Development of Agriculture & Allied Sectors
In July this year the UT administration constituted an Apex Committee for
holistic development of Agriculture & Allied Sectors for which leading luminaries
were invited like Dr Mangala Rai Former DG ICAR, as its Chairman and Dr
Ashok Dalwai, CEO NRAA apart from other well known figures in the field of
Agriculture, Planning, Statistics & Administration. The committee working in a
mission mode came with a comprehensive plan in the form of 29 projects
covering all the sectors within the ambit of APD in a record time of 5 months. The
unique thing about these projects is not only that they have been prepared by
some of the finest brains in the country but also the fact that their formulation was
undertaken in a consultative mode – ensuring that the opinion of all stakeholders
including our farmers are taken onboard.
The Lt Governor said: "Having gone through the contents of the projects
that have been cleared by the committee and their expected outputs and
outcomes, I am confident that a new revolution in the agriculture and allied
sectors of the UT is on the anvil. J&K is determined to move forward to touch
new heights of success ".
The projects which have now been approved by the administrative council
and having an outlay of Rs. 5013 crores over the next five years shall transform
the agriculture economy of J&K putting it on a new trajectory of growth, doubling
the output of the sectors, boosting exports and making the sectors sustainable &
commercially viable. This will herald a new phase of farmer prosperity and rural
livelihood security in J&K.
These twenty-nine projects will almost double the output of the sectors,
boosting exports and making the sectors sustainable & commercially viable.
These gains shall be equitable, reaching the last person in the pyramid and
ecologically sustainable through efficient use of bio-resources for food, feed &
industry. The agricultural output which stands at Rs 37600 crores shall increase
by over Rs 28142 crores to reach more than Rs 65700 crores per year, with a
resultant increment in sectoral growth rate to 11%. The interventions shall create
employment opportunities for over 2.8 lakh youth and establish around 19,000
enterprises. More than 2.5 lakh persons shall be skilled in various agri-
enterprises ranging from seed production, precision farming of vegetables, bee-
rearing, cocoon production, mushroom farming, integrated & organic agriculture,
high-density fruit farming to processing, dairying, sheep & poultry farming as well
as fodder production. In the next five years the UT shall have a motivated
workforce with agri-entrepreneurial skills in a commercially viable and
ecologically sustainable agri-ecosystem.
The list of sector wise approved projects is as follows:
S. no Project Name
A. AGRICULTURE SECTOR
1. Development of Seed and Seed Multiplication chain in PPP mode
2. Promotion of Niche crops in UT of J&K
3. Promotion of Vegetables/exotic vegetables under open & hi-tech
protected cultivation
4. Strengthening Agri-Marketing System in UT of J&K
5. Promotion of medicinal/aromatic plants on commercial basis
6. Promotion of Apiculture
7. Technological interventions to strengthen Sericulture in J&K
8. Promotion of Nutri cereals (Millets)
9. Farm mechanization and automation
10. Promotion of mushroom cultivation
11. Promotion of Oilseeds
12. Formulation of 300 FPOs
13. Adoption & promotion of integrated farming system (IFS)/Integrated
Livelihood systems (ILS) in UT of J&K
14. Promotion of commercial floriculture in UT of J&K
15. Development of rain fed areas of J&K
16. Alternate Agriculture System for sustainability
17. Sensor based smart Agriculture
18. Minimizing pesticide use in Agriculture
19. J&K soil & land resource information system
20. Innovative approaches in agriculture extension
S. no Project Name
B. HORTICULTURE SECTOR
21. Production of Designer Plants for promotion of HD plants and
rejuvenation of orchards
22.
UT level food processing program for development of clusters for
specific products of J&K
C. LIVESTOCK SECTOR
23. Dairy Development in J&K
24. Reorienting priorities: Self-sufficiency in mutton production in J&K
25. Roadmap for poultry development in J&K
26. Technological Interventions for Fish Seed and Trout Production in
UT of J&K
27. Promotion of wool/pelt processing and marketing
28. Development of fodder resources for UT of J&K
D EDUCATION / SKUAST
29
Support to Human Resource Development for Technological
backstop for Sustainable and Accelerated Transformation of
Agriculture
The major outputs and likely outcomes of the twenty-nine approved
projects include:
1. Achievement of recommended Seed Replacement Rate by
cultivation of 2.596 lakh QTLS of quality seed. The measure will result in
production increase between 15%-45% depending on the crop.
2. The production of Niche crops (like saffron, kalazeera, rajmash,
basmati etc) shall be boosted by bringing additional 11000 Ha under their
cultivation through diversification. Quality plantation material of these crops by
establishment of new nurseries and seed villages will be made available along
with GI Tagging and compact value chains.
3. Self-reliance in vegetables and boosting production of exotic varieties
for export. The vegetable production will increase from 19.90 lakh to 25.87 lakh
MT. New 1100 hi-tech green houses and 3548 poly-houses will be established
with an upscaling of cropping intensity to 250%.
4. Creation of an intensive network of post-harvest and marketing value
chains from Rural Business & service hubs, reefer vans to mandis, from grading
lines to branding centers with integrated 67,000 MT of CA Storage Space. A
dedicated backend market intelligence cell shall be made functional to extend
marketing decision support to farmers in real-time.
5. A new dawn in Medicinal & Aromatic plant sector by cultivation of
MAPs on more than 250 ha of land with a potential sectoral output of 750 crores
(15 years).
6. Tripling of Honey Production from 2200 MT to 6610 MT beside
generation of Rs. 475 crores per year from value added by-products. Spinoff
effect on crops that rely on cross pollination by increase in bee numbers.
7. Doubling of silkworm seed and cocoon production and regaining of
J&K’s glory as a producer of high-quality bivoltine silk. Planting of 10 lakh
mulberry trees and creation of a state-of-the-art automatic reeling facility.
8. Focus on climate resilient millet crop and nutri-cereals cultivation on
14,000 ha area in Kandi/Rainfed belts. Doubling of per hectare productivity of
millets and establishment of 60 millet processing units.
9. Increase in farm power from present 1.74 Kw/ha to 2.5 Kw/ha.
Establishment of 283 Custom Hiring Centre & 142 AI & precision farming
centers.
10. Diversification in farm income through boost in cultivation of
mushrooms. Quadrupling mushroom production from 2100 MT to 7800 MT.
Value addition through establishment of 4 Mushroom Canning & pickling Unit.
11. Doubling in production of Oil seeds & increasing area under
cultivation from 1.4 lakh Ha to 2.1 lakh Ha.One hundred new Oil seed extraction
units will be established for value addition. Increase in per hectare productivity
from 800 to 1200 kg.
12. Creation of 300 FPOs encompassing 3000 farmer interest groups
(FIGs) by mobilization of 60 thousand farmers in each block of J&K. Net returns
to farmers as a result of collectivization will increase by 10-12%.
13. Integrated farming systems, integrated organic farming systems &
integrated livelihood system will be established by involving 85,000 farmer
families in drought prone & rain-fed areas. Enhanced farmer income (1:2.01 CB
Ratio), and increased income per hectare by 100%.
14. Harvesting J&K’s agro-climatic diversity in cultivation of temperate
and other cut flowers through strengthening of existing 150 units and creation of
new 54 nurseries & 330 production units.
15. 50% increase in Fruit Economy from Rs 10,000 cr/year to Rs
15,000 cr/year. 7500 ha additional area will be brought under high density fruit
cultivation, 11 million new plant material will be produced along with 200%
increase in productivity in existing orchards.
16. Seven product clusters in 17 districts handling 20 Lakh MT produce
shall be mobilized. Five Mega Clusters will be established with grant of Rs 50
crore each. (Milk, Walnut, Meat & poultry, Vegetables and Basmati), along with
One Midi-Cluster (Cherry) with grant of Rs 25 cr & One Mini Cluster (Trout) with
grant of Rs 12.5 cr. Net revenue generation of over Rs 1450 cr/yr.
17. Milk output will increase by 75% and milk entering the processing
chain will be tripled. Breeding cover improved from 30% to 70% & conception
rate by 10%. Creation of facilities for production of sexed semen within J&K with
an aim to replace 50% normal semen with sexed semen. Establishment of 500
village level milk collection units & 50 bulk milk chillers. Village level value
addition of 110 lakh liters of milk into traditional products. Per animal milk
productivity increased from 2400L PA to 4300L PA.
18. Self-reliance in mutton will be achieved with sustainable wool & pelt
value chains. Importation of 2700 heads of superior muttonous breeds of sheep
shall be undertaken to effect genetic improvement in the sector. Implementation
of ETT & AI programs to intensify genetic improvement and horizontal growth.
Overall 300% increase in returns from wool & pelt to further secure livelihood of
the traditional sheep & goat farmers.
19. Self-sufficiency in poultry meat and egg production will be
achieved. 300 feed production units, 125 integrated hatcheries & 200 big layer
farms will be incentivized in private sector. 60 crore eggs and 6500 MT for free-
range meat will become available annually from the backyard sector. Prevent a
capital flight of Rs 1273 cr/yr.
20. The production of Trout & Carp will be doubled by introducing fresh
germplasm imported from Europe along with modernization & establishment of
new hatcheries. Implementation of modern technologies in water management
and rearing by establishment of raceways, RAS&bio-floc. Establishment of
thirteen fish feed mills four cold storage cum ice production units and four quality-
cum-disease control labs.
21. The huge Fodder Deficit of J&K will be reduced by 80% through
establishment of farmer demo plots (on 4100 ha/year), hay-silage units (300),
fodder depots (25) and of hydroponic units (500 units with 15,000 MT green
fodder output). In addition, generation of 20 lakh MT of fodder shall be
undertaken from orchards, forest closures & alpine/sub-alpine grasslands.
22. To boost extension and lab to land services 2000 Kissan Khidmat
Centres (KKCs) for participatory planning and decentralized decision making will
be established to promote remunerative agriculture at panchayat levels. The
KKCs will ensure strong linkage with KVKs, line Departments, and universities for
technical support leading to holistic area specific agricultural plan and models,
service delivery at farmer doorsteps and impact analysis of schemes.
23. Apart from addressing the major challenges facing the agriculture
and allied sectors the projects also undertake prospective planning in the form of
establishing standards & facilities for organic plantations, developing region
specific farm machinery, demonstration of sensor based smart farming models,
developing a GIS and soil testing based online repository for efficient soil and
land use, minimizing pesticide use through development of bio-pesticides and
advanced spraying technologies as well as support for next generation of agri-
technocrats through a program of technological backstopping.
Scheme 2: Aspirational Panchayat Development Programme
J&K UT is rolling out “Aspirational Panchayat Development Programme
(APDP)” in UT of J&K and to select the most backward 285 Panchayats (One
Panchayat per Block) for their holistic development.
An array of key parameters for the preparation of Panchayat Development
Index to rate the various Panchayats of the UT of Jammu and Kashmir on socio-
economic indicators concerning the lives of the people residing in the rural areas
has already been identified. This exercise will be taken upon the analogy of
Aspirational Block Development Programme being implemented by the UT of
Jammu and Kashmir.
A total of 100 measurable indicators have been identified across 9 Sectors
namely Agriculture & allied Activities (06 indicators), Health & Nutrition (11),
Education (13), Rural Development & Sanitation (07), Beneficiary-Oriented
Schemes (04), Skill Development (04), Basic Infrastructure (17), Environment
(05) & Good Governance (33), which shall give insight of existing status and
incremental progress over a period of time.
On the basis of importance of these sectors, weights shall be assigned to
each sector and sub-indicators as per relevance in the life of rural population.
These Aspirational Panchayats shall be developed through convergence of
various ongoing District / UT Schemes and Centrally Sponsored Schemes /
Programmes. Additional financial assistance of Rs. 10 Lakh shall be provided to
the selected Panchayats under the scheme for its further development after
achieving saturation in the following parameters like Soil Health Cards, Land
Pass Books, Kisan Credit Cards, Shram Cards issued to eligible Laborers, 100
percent Institutional Births,100 percent vaccination of children in the age group of
9-11 months, Zero Percent Out of School Children, 100 percent Solid Waste
Collection & Treatment, Aadhaar Seeding with MGNREGA Cards, Issuance of
Golden Cards under PMJAY SEHAT.
Some 285 most backward Panchayats shall be selected from 4291
Panchayats of UT of J&K (One Panchayat per Block), on the basis of least
aggregate score obtained on the selected 100 parameters/indicators in the
Panchayat Development Index in the concerned Block. The data shall be
analyzed in PD&MD and most backward Panchayat in the Block shall be
identified, the details of which shall be shared with all respective District
Development Commissioners for their authentication.
Aspirational Panchayat Development Programme (APDP) Dashboard shall
be developed by the IT Department for uploading the data of all Panchayats on
the selected indicators/parameters. Subsequently, APDP Dashboard shall be
used to monitor the progress of these Aspirational Panchayats on Key
Performance Indicators.
Aspirational Panchayat Development Programme shall be implemented
under the overall supervision of the District Development Commissioner (DDC).
For smooth implementation of the programme, a Nodal Officer shall be
designated by the DDC at district level from the Rural Development Department.
Panchayat Development Index will be introduced to develop and replicate
best practices that drive improvement across the socio-economic themes of
Panchayats. The identified Panchayats will be given special focus to saturate the
inclusive development schemes and serve as model Panchayats.
Moreover, access of people of these Panchayats to various schemes
available for development of the poor, shall be improved/saturated, which shall
bring overall improvement in educational level, health & well being and their living
conditions. This will be a move forward towards inclusive development of these
areas ensuring benefits to the last man standing in the row.
Scheme 3: Aspirational Towns Development Programme
J&K is rolling out “Aspirational Towns Development Programme” (ATDP), the
Urban Reform Incentive Fund (URIF) to incentivize undertaking of reforms in
Municipalities, and the Assessment Framework for rating various Municipalities.
The Jammu & Kashmir Municipal Development Index (J&K MDI) – 2022 is a tool
to assess the development of Urban Local Bodies across the Union Territory of
J&K against the normative development benchmarks. While J&K MDI will act as
a guide to evidence-based policy making, catalyse action to achieve broader
developmental outcomes, including the Sustainable Development Goals, assess
and compare the outcomes achieved by municipal bodies, give citizens an
insight into the functioning of local bodies and build a dialogue between the
stakeholders, the URIF will provide necessary financial incentive to Municipalities
to undertake reforms, in their journey of becoming Aspirational Towns.
Since the 74th Amendment Act gave constitutional recognition to Urban Local
Bodies (ULBs) as the third tier of governance in 1993, municipalities have
become pivotal to urban governance. It is therefore apparent that the
development and governance of the cities is determined by the functioning of
Municipalities. They are the key agents that provide the enablers into making a
city ‘Smart, and Sustainable’.
The assessment framework examines the sectoral performance of
Municipalities across a set of 7 verticals/pillars, namely Quality of Life and
Services; Economic Ability; Technology; Urban Planning, Governance,
Sustainability & Climate Resilience and Citizen Perception, which include 37
sectors/categories and 138 indicators. The Municipal Development Index will act
as a guide to evidence-based policy making, catalyze action to achieve broader
developmental outcomes including the Sustainable Development Goals, assess
and compare the outcomes achieved by municipal bodies, give citizens an
insight into the functioning of local bodies and hold them accountable.
Based on the performance of these Municipalities, as per the benchmarks
prescribed under J&K MDI-2022, while best performing Municipalities will be
encouraged and incentivized though additional grant-in-aid in the form of URIF
(Urban Reform Incentive Fund), special funds will also be provided for building
capacities and covering gaps in these Municipalities.
