Agriculture Director restructures committees across three administrative tiers

The Agriculture Director has recommended a reorganisation of Agriculture Development Committees based on revised guidelines, which the department has now implemented across Krishi Bhavan, local body and district tiers.

New committee structure spans three administrative levels

The revamped Krishi Bhavan-level ADC will comprise 23 members, with the local panchayat president serving as chairperson. The composition includes MLAs or their representatives, the panchayat vice-president, representatives from farmer organisations and trade unions, three farmer representatives and a woman farmer nominated by the Principal Agriculture Officer.

Urban local bodies will operate 24-member ADCs chaired by the municipal chairperson or Mayor. At the district tier, the district panchayat president will lead a 29-member committee with the District Collector as vice-chairperson. Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha MPs from the district, MLAs, the district panchayat vice-president, municipal chairpersons and Corporation Mayors are among the district-level members.

Expanded mandate covers monitoring and disaster response

The restructured committees will monitor agricultural activities within their respective jurisdictions and coordinate collective action during natural calamities. Their responsibilities include assessing the availability of organic fertilizers and farm sector credit.

ADCs at all three levels are tasked with evaluating access to bank loans and farming essentials including seeds, saplings, fertilizers and pesticides. They will also assess irrigation facilities and soil conservation measures, while ensuring prompt aid reaches farmers following natural calamities and crop loss.

Source: The Hindu