Only 5,918 Kishan Credit Cards (KCCs) could be prepared against a target of preparing 14,000 KCCs in Champawat in the financial year 2013-2014.It is worth mentioning here that the Agriculture department plays a key role in providing due facilities like KCCs to the farmers.
But, as the officials concerned of the Champawat district administration have allegedly said, the district agriculture department, Champawat, did not take necessary measures to meet the target of preparing 14,000 KCCs for the farmers of the district in the financial year 2013-2014.
However, Deependra Kumar Chaudhary, District Magistrate, Champawat, expressing disappointment over failing to achieve the target of preparing 14,000 KCCs by the Agriculture department and other agencies concerned, directed the officials concerned of particularly the district agriculture department to take necessary steps to expedite the KCC preparation process so that farmers could be equipped with the KCCs.
At the same time, laying roadmap for preparing the KCCs, the District Magistrate, Champawat, has said that the agriculture department must set target for preparing KCCs ‘nyay’ panchayat wise in the district.
Besides, the officials concerned engaged in preparing the KCCs must help farmers complete necessary formalities in regard to preparing KCCs so that the same KCCs could be prepared according to the target set in this regard, added District Magistrate Champawat.
Keeping in view past experience of failing to achieve target regarding KCCs, the district administration Champawat has also emphasised on the need to review the progress of preparing KCCs on monthly basis. So, the District Magistrate, Champawat, has also directed the CDO, Champawat to hold meeting with the officials concerned in this regard every month so that all the KCCs could be prepared as per the target and farmers could be benefitted.
It is worth mention here that despite its hilly terrain, Champawat is known for its huge agricultural as well as horticultural potential making farming as mainstay of economy of its citizens.
It is also to note that given its suitable climatic conditions, Champawat is one of a few districts of Uttarakhand which is also known as a key producer of orthodox green leaf tea.
The facility of KCC was introduced by the Government only to help the progressive farmers to promote their farming activities.But delay on part of the officials concerned including the district agriculture department, Champawat, in preparing the KCCs as per the target given for the financial year 2013-2014, has only come as a seatback for the development of agricultural activities in the Champawat district.