J&K’s post harvest projects can avail 3% interest subvention upto Rs 2 cr

ZT News Network

JAMMU: Under the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF) scheme, an interest subvention of 3% could be availed up to a limit of Rs 2 crore for a period of 7 years for establishing post harvest management projects in J&K. Moreover, no collateral has to be given by the applicant besides the fee for credit coverage will be paid by the central government.

This was stated by the Principal Secretary Agriculture, Horticulture, Animal and Sheep Husbandry and Cooperative Departments, Navin Kumar Choudhary, today while reviewing the progress on implementation of Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF) and PM Formalization of Micro Food Enterprise (PM FMFE) Scheme here today.

A target of 200 Units has been fixed to be registered / benefited from this scheme for 2020-21, the meeting was informed. The programme has four broad components like support to individual and groups of micro enterprises, branding and marketing support, support for strengthening of institutions, setting up robust project management framework, as was revealed in the meeting.

Principal Secretary said that both the schemes have the potential to revolutionise the agricultural sector in J&K and asked the Head of Departments to prepare DPRs worth Rs 50 crore each year to tap full potential of the sector.

Navin directed the officers to work for establishment of agro markets for organic agricultural produce in consultation with the district administration. He asked them to establish these at accessible places before the onset of new vegetable production season so that people can avail its benefits from these markets.

The meeting was attended by Director Horticulture, Jammu, Ram Sevak; Director Agriculture, Jammu, Inder Jeet; Director Horticulture (M&P), Imam Din; Managing Director, HPMC, Shafat Sultan, Additional Secretary, Horticulture, Jahangir Hashmi and Jammu based Chief Agriculture and Horticulture Officers and Area Marketing officers.
Director Horticulture, Kashmir, Ajaz Ahmad Bhat; Director Agriculture Kashmir, Manzoor Ahmad Qadri and Kashmir division based Chief Agriculture and Horticulture Officers and Area Marketing Officers participated in the meeting through Video Conferencing.

Principal Secretary was informed that the PM Formalization of Micro Food Enterprise (PM FMFE) Scheme adopts One District One Product (ODOP) approach to reap the benefit of scale in terms of procurement of inputs, availing common services and marketing of products. It was added that this scheme is a centrally sponsored scheme that is designed to address the challenges faced by the micro enterprises and to tap the potential of individuals, groups and cooperatives in supporting the upgradation and formalization of these enterprises.