Farmers' welfare among top priorities: JK DyCM

Terming farmers as backbone of Jammu and Kashmir's economy, Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh today said their welfare was among the top priorities of the government which has taken series of "path-breaking measures" for them.
"Setting up paddy procurement centres in the far-flung areas of the state is one among many initiatives taken by the government for the welfare of the farming community," Singh said while addressing a gathering of farmers during an interactive session-cum-Diwali Milan here.
He said the government has approved rates of Rs 1,550 and Rs 1,590 for China and Ratna paddy respectively so that the farmers get due value of their produce.

The deputy chief minister appealed to the farming community to adopt natural and organic farming to get better returns.
He asked them to take optimum benefit of state and centrally-sponsored schemes and use latest agriculture technologies for boosting their crop production.
Later, the deputy chief minister felicitated the farmers and asked them to avoid use of chemical fertilisers.