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| Govt to initiate measures for increasing agricultural production | | |
EARLY TIMES REPORT
Jammu, March 17 : The state government is worried over the gradual slump in the primary sector activity which is connected with agriculture and allied sectors. A recent government survey has indicated that while the primary sector had contributed 24.60 per cent to the state's GSDP, against 25.82 last year, the secondary sector relating to the industry and manufacturing activities have contributed 29.60 per cent.
According to the survey , about 20 years ago the primary sector, agriculture and allied activities, would contribute 47.40 per cent to the state's GSDP. Though the sector of industry and manufacturing activities have registered good growth from 12.90 per cent in 1980-81 to 39.70 per cent, the tertiary sector related to the services has witnessed phenomenal rise. It contributes 45.80 per cent to the state's GSDP.
Experts are of the view that the main factors responsible for slump in the primary sector of agriculture and allied activities were rapid utilisation of agricultural land for raising housing colonies. According to the experts, apart from the urban areas, belts in and around the cities of Srinagar and Jammu had been converted into the housing colonies during the last 25 years. They said rapid increase in the population, which has risen upto 1.20 crores during the last 20 years and split in joint family system had forced families to go in for construction of new houses and flats.
Another reason is that the state has not been able to shift from monocropping farming practices to double or multicropping practices. It is because of weak base for the irrigation facilities and weather conditions. In addition to this the weather vagaries too have had severe impact on agricultural production. Almost every year crops get damaged either on account of drought or owing to floods or heavy rain and snow.
Usually the farmers have not been assisted by the Government agencies in taking to new techniques for sowing and harvesting. The scientists of the two agricultural universities have not been able to evolve new high yielding varieties of rice and wheat which were also disease resistent and fast maturing crops.
Official sources said that the Minister for Agriculture, G.H.Mir, has initiated various scheme for introducing double cropping in the state .He has directed the concerned agencies to assist the farmers in raising crops in the Kandi areas too where steps for sprinkle irrigation were taken.
The state Government has suggested to the Industries Department to initiate measures for sustaining the growth that has been registered during the last 20 years. Not only this measures should be taken to encourage reputed industrialists for setting up medium and major units in the state which would not only increase industrial production but also ensure increased job opportunities for the educated and skilled youth in the state.
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