Srinagar, Oct 10: Director Agriculture Kashmir Sartaj Ahmad Shah on Saturday directed officials to accelerate the implementation of agricultural development schemes and ensure timely utilisation of allocated funds, stressing that benefits under government programmes must reach farmers within the prescribed timelines.
Chairing a review meeting at the Directorate of Agriculture, Lalmandi, Srinagar, Shah assessed the physical and financial progress of various schemes in Srinagar, Pulwama, Budgam and Ganderbal districts.
The meeting reviewed the implementation of Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS), the Holistic Agriculture Development Programme (HADP), the Jammu and Kashmir Competitiveness Improvement Project (JKCIP), flagship agricultural initiatives and works funded under the Capital Expenditure (CAPEX) budget.
Chief Agriculture Officers of the four districts and Drawing and Disbursing Officers (DDOs) attended the meeting.
During the review, Shah examined the status of ongoing projects, expenditure against allocated funds and progress towards targets fixed under different departmental programmes.
He directed officers to ensure that all approved activities were implemented according to the current year’s action plans and completed within stipulated deadlines.
The Director stressed that delays in execution and expenditure should be addressed promptly to prevent disruptions in the delivery of agricultural services and benefits to farmers.
He asked district-level officers to maintain close coordination with field functionaries and regularly monitor both physical achievements and financial expenditure.
Shah also emphasised optimum utilisation of available resources and adherence to prescribed guidelines while implementing farmer-oriented schemes.
The meeting discussed administrative and operational bottlenecks affecting the execution of agricultural programmes, with the Director instructing concerned officers to resolve such issues without delay.
He reiterated the need for regular monitoring, accountability and coordinated implementation to improve the effectiveness of agricultural development initiatives across the Kashmir division.
The review covered the four districts’ performance under major agricultural programmes, although district-wise expenditure figures, achievement percentages and pending targets were not disclosed in the official statement.
The Director said the department would continue focusing on timely implementation of schemes and improving the delivery of agricultural services to farming communities across Kashmir.
