Commissioner Secretary Agriculture Dr Asgar Samoon is considered to be one of the experienced bureaucrats of Jammu & Kashmir State. In an exclusive interview with
“The Kashmir Scenario”, Malik Sajid,
He speaks his heart out. Unfazed by his shunting to the post of Commissioner Secretary from the coveted post of Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Samoon says a hard-working, dedicated official befits any post or situation.
What are your main aims and objectives for the development of agriculture sector this year?
We have a lot of schemes and incentives in the agriculture sector which are fully funded by government of India.
The aim of these schemes is to increase public investment in agriculture and allied sectors and to provide flexibility and to ensure that the local needs reflect in the agricultural plans of the states.
If the schemes are implemented fully, we will achieve the goal of reducing the yield gaps in important crops, through focused interventions and the returns to the farmers will maximize. We want visible change in the production by addressing the problems in a holistic manner.
We have introduced hybrid varieties of various crops to increase production and we provide monetary assistance to farmers to develop their farms on scientific lines.
How far you are successful in implementing these schemes?
We are trying our best to make farmers aware about the schemes and persuade them to do farming on scientific lines. Let me tell you people are not still taking it as a priority despite the fact that agriculture is the main source of income. Majority of the people are still opting traditional ways of agriculture. This notion should go. We have developed some model farms and orchards where we take the farmers to these farms to persuade them to do farming on modern lines to increase the yield.
A board for the development of farmer community has been constituted in the state to empower the farmers, so that they have a say in policy formulation and the implementation of schemes in the agriculture sector. It will act as a bridge between the farming community and the functionaries of the agriculture production department.
Tell us about some of the achievements?
The production of cereal crops in the valley witnessed an upward trend. There has been 6 percent increase in rice and wheat production while maize witnessed 13 percent increase. Similarly vegetable cultivation in the state is showing prominent development. Vegetable exports from the state has more than doubled from Rs 100 crore in 2009 to Rs 225 crore in 2011.
What is the agricultural department doing on long term basis to increase the production in state?
The department is ready to unveil a new agriculture policy that will lay down a medium to long term road map for multi-sectoral initiatives for engendering ecologically desirable, environmentally sustainable and economically viable growth in the agriculture and allied sectors.
The proposed policy will shift the focus from the existing food grain driven farming to the high value segment of agriculture closely linked to modern logistics, processing and organized retailing, all as part of one integrated agri-system in the form of value chain.
Diversification will not be at the expense of food grain cultivation, as crop adjustment procedures like double-cropping are being promoted in a big way in the valley.
How agriculture can help the state to reduce the unemployment?
As I said earlier that people are not taking agriculture as the primary job. We have a lot of potential in agriculture. If people opt for agriculture I don’t think there will be unemployment in the state. See a person involved in agriculture still thinks he is unemployed. We have many schemes where we have 90 percent subsidy for farmers be it food processing, marketing production etc. but very few people are ready to invest.
What could be the reason for it?
See people are not ready to invest. We construct houses worth crores and spent lavishly on marriages. People even get loans to make wazwan in marriages but are not ready to invest where they get money and also employment for themselves and others.
If they avail the benefits of various schemes, the youth can develop his/her own unit and provide job to others also. We have many success stories of young boys and girls who after completing their degrees started their own units. They become torch bearers for others who waste time in search of government jobs. We need to highlight such success stories so that others opt for it. To create awareness about such schemes for the youth where there are maximum subsidies, we hold employments melas and exhibitions where we create awareness about the schemes.
There are suspicions that there is internal politics going on in the department. Is there is no coordination between officers of different sectors which effect the functioning of the department?
I too received complaints about the same in few areas. We will not allow any such activity which affects the functioning of the department.
Within department many people allege that the ‘one man, one post’ rule has been violated and many blue-eyed people hold on to more than one post. Why is it happening if it is happening?
Well “one man, one post’ rule should not be compromised on. As regards some blue-eyed person getting undue promotions, I think that matter should be looked into. I will ensure transparency is brought within the system and everyone gets a due share in promotions.
People recruited through PSC allege that people recruited directly by the department are ruling the roost. How true are the allegations?
These allegations are baseless. Having said that, I promise to look into the matter and deliver justice. PSC recruits should get a due share in promotions and postings. There is nothing like that.
Within the department people allege that they are not promoted on time. Why have the promotions been put on hold? A substantial chunk of employees of your department allege that only the blue-eyed people get speedy promotions. How would you react to that?
Let me tell you that there is nothing like that. We may have some minor differences with each other, but that does not mean that there are selective promotions going on in the department. Promotions take place as per the merit and there is no disparity what so ever.