Lucknow: The Uttar Pradesh Government on Tuesday decided to establish the first of its kind Agriculture Technical Management Authority (ATMA), to address diverse problems of farmers.

The decision to this effect was taken by the State Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav here.

The main objective of the new Authority would be to provide `single window' system to the farmers similar to what existed in industrial and housing sectors.

At State, district levels

The ATMA, which would have its set up at the State and district level, will act as a consultant for the farmers in providing all information about the latest farming technologies and other land related problems.

Official sources said that the Agriculture Production Commissioner would head the state level ATMA while the district magistrates would be the nodal officer of the authority in their respective districts.

Senior officials of the departments of agriculture, rural development, sugarcane, animal husbandry, fisheries, horticulture and other allied departments would be members of the authority.

Road map for development

The authority would also prepare a road map for development of the agricultural sector and ensure its implementation.

In another decision, the State Government approved the report on cooperative sector streamlining submitted by a high powered committee and gave its nod to hand over 40 acre of land in the state capital for setting up Ram Manohar Lohia Law Institute.

The state cabinet also extended exemption of the trade tax for another five years to Jalanji Plytex Limited, Gorakhpur.

The company was given five-year tax exemption in 2002 on the condition that it will invest Rs 50 crores during that period. However, till date, the company had invested only Rs 17 crores and was declared a loss-making unit. The government also approved a compounding trade tax for the brick kiln owners. -- UNI

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