National Farmers Day
Agriculture Minister reaffirms Govt’s
commitment towards farmers’ welfare, agri promotion
‘HADP to create 2.8L jobs, establish
19K enterprises, train 2.5L individuals in modern farming practices’
JAMMU, DECEMBER 23:
Minister for Agriculture Production and Rural Development & Panchayati Raj
Departments, Javed Ahmad Dar, expressed gratitude to the farming community of
Jammu and Kashmir for their dedication to agriculture and allied sectors.
He lauded their
pivotal role in making agriculture a cornerstone of the region’s economy and
cultural heritage while speaking at an event organised to commemorate the
National Farmers Day 2024.
Addressing at the
event, the Minister stated, “we celebrate the remarkable contributions of our
farmers, who continue to uphold and sustain Jammu and Kashmir’s rich
agricultural legacy on this auspicious occasion.”
He highlighted the
region’s globally acclaimed produce, saying, “from the world-famous saffron of
Pampore to the premium Basmati rice of Jammu, from organic walnuts to the
finest apples of Kashmir Valley, our farmers make us proud on both national and
international platforms.”
Detailing
government initiatives to uplift the farming community, the Minister emphasized
the Holistic Agricultural Development Program (HADP), a comprehensive
initiative with a Rs 5,013 crore outlay over five years. The program aims to
nearly double agricultural output to Rs 65,700 crore annually, create 2.8 lakh
jobs, establish 19,000 enterprises and train 2.5 lakh individuals in modern
farming practices.
In addition to
these measures, the government has established 500 Kisan Khidmat Ghars (KKGs)
as one-stop support centers for farmers, with plans to expand the number to
1,500. Outreach efforts under the Kisan Sampark Abhiyan are also being scaled
up to connect with the farming community more effectively, stated the Minister.
The Minister also
outlined the Competitiveness Improvement of Agriculture and Allied Sectors
Project (JKCIP), a Rs 1,800 crore initiative focusing on climate-smart farming,
agribusiness development and support for vulnerable farming communities.
Together with HADP, these initiatives bring a combined budget of Rs 6,813
crore, which is set to revolutionize agriculture and allied sectors in the
region.
“The government is
further providing direct financial support to small and marginal farmers under
the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana, ensuring economic stability for this key
segment of the population. To enhance farmers’ income, the Integrated Dairy
Development Scheme (IDDS) is promoting dairy farming as a supplementary
livelihood. Moreover, the introduction of high-yield apple varieties aims to
significantly boost productivity and profitability for orchardists, maintained
the Minister.”
The Minister added
that efforts to improve irrigation in rain fed areas have been intensified with
the approval of 200 borewells under NABARD funding. In another significant
step, establishment of a Centre of Excellence for Precision Vegetable and
Floriculture Farming has been initiated with an investment of Rs 592 lakh to
advance farming techniques, he said.
He said that the
government has prioritized agri-horticulture-animal husbandry projects for
NABARD funding and announced a 50.8% budget increase for the horticulture
sector in the 2025-26 financial year. Additionally, the approval of a Rs
30,891.3 lakh agriculture sector budget for FY 2025 underscores the
administration’s commitment to growth and sustainability in the sector, he
added.
The Minister
reiterated the government’s focus on enhancing irrigation systems, improving
market access and promoting sustainable agricultural practices.
“We remain
steadfast in our resolve to make agriculture a profitable and sustainable
livelihood for the people of Jammu and Kashmir,” he asserted.
Concluding his
address, the Minister delivered an inspiring message to farmers “Together, we
will continue to strengthen the backbone of our economy and work towards a
future of prosperity, sustainability and growth for our farming community.”