Govt contemplating to accord core
sector status to agriculture: Zargar

Jammu, Feb 22 : "Out of Rs. 1931 crore, credit plan 2008-2009, projected by NABARD for the State, Rs. 471 crore would be available for agriculture and Rs. 538 crore for Non Agriculture Sectors" said Minister for Co-operatives and Agriculture, Abdul Aziz Zargar after releasing "The State Focus Paper 2008-2009" at "State Credit Seminar-2008-2009, organized by NABARD here today.

Among others, Chairman, SCB, Abdul Huq Khan, Registrar Co-operatives, Dr. G.N.Qasba, Chief General Manager, NABARD, A.K.Mathur, Director Indian System of Medicines, Dr. Abdul Kabir, senior managers of NABARD and other banks were present on the occasion.

Mr. Zargar said that Government was contemplating to accord core sector status to agriculture. He said NABARD has played a vital role in reconstruction programme of the State, adding that efforts to increase agriculture production in the State were being supplemented by the bank through credit facility. He said apart from agriculture and horticulture sectors our State has vast potential in floriculture and power sectors, which if exploited in full could not only improve the economy of the State, but generate ample employment avenues for unemployed youth. He said agriculture production depends on the timely credit facilities to the farmers to enable them to fetch fertilizers, seeds and other agriculture inputs at the time of need. He said financial institutions, particularly, co-operative banks should be liberal in lending loans to the farmers, which can pave the way for increasing their production.

The Minister emphasized upon the management of NABARD to give priority to farming sector rather to non farming sector. He said co-operatives must have a strong institutional capacity, adding that the bottlenecks causing the slow growth need to be removed to ensure perceptible increase in economic growth.

While releasing the book, the Minister said that book containing valuable information covering core sectors of agriculture and rural development of the State. He hoped the book would prove beneficial for development of cooperative sector.

NABARD, Chief General Manager, Mr Mathur highlighted the achievements of the Bank.

Dr. Qasba said that several measures have been initiated to improve the Co-operative sector, adding that implementation of Vaidaynathan Committee Report in the State would change the economy of the farmers.

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