In a first-of-its-kind Union Minister of Agriculture Radha Mohan Singh addressed the Chief Secretaries of States and Principal Secretaries via video conferencing asking them to submit their Annual Action Plan 2018-19 to the Ministry by April 15, 2018.
Minister said the funds on account of central schemes on Agriculture and allied sectors could be disbursed only when the needed inputs are supplied to the union on time.
Singh also took stock of the unutilized funds of the States and UTs for 2017-18 and asked them to submit, in the next two days, the utilization certificates of the fund received on account of first installment so that the second installment is released before the end of financial year 2017-18.
The Minister also requested States to utilize the leftover fund before the end of fiscal 2017-18.
Singh also asked States to organize regular meetings of the Steering Committee on Agricultural Technology Management Agency (ATMA) scheme and fill vacant positions.