Srinagar, Aug 10: Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo on Saturday said that the Holistic Agriculture Development Program (HADP) will usher in a new era of growth in agriculture and allied sectors that will greatly improve the lives of farmers and increase their manifold.
He made these remarks during an interaction with HADP beneficiaries at Sher e Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST) Kashmir.
The CS said, “There is certainly a view out there among the farmers of J&K that HADP has brought about significant enhancement in their income and witnessing the success stories of farmers is a reflection of the positive outcomes.”
He said 70 percent of the population in J&K has agriculture as a predominant livelihood venture and it was in this context that the government came up with a pragmatic and synergised policy programme (HADP) which will address the challenges and transform the sector into the envisioned prosperous sustainable agriculture economy in the region.
Dulloo said HADP aims to increase production, productivity, growth and employment generation among other things which would double the contribution of agricultural sector towards GDP. “HADP will enhance the income of 13 lakh farmer families and provide employment opportunities to about 3 lakhs and skill development to 2.5 lakh farmers,” he said.
The Chief Secretary said J&K has a comparative advantage over other parts of the country in various products like saffron, mushk budji rice, apples and walnuts and realising its full potential is one of the objectives of HADP.
“One of the biggest successes of HADP is the increasing confidence of the younger generation in agriculture and allied sectors,” he said, adding, “The youth who were moving away from agriculture have found a renewed interest in this sector and have greatly attained success. They have not only created employment for themselves but also provided employment opportunities to a large number of people and inspired them to join HADP.”
Emphasising that HADP provides a whole set of ecosystems where a farmer gets information, knowledge and understanding which builds his confidence, the Chief Secretary said that this ecosystem has been brought about by the integration of farmers, the agriculture department and the university. “HADP is marked by collaborative efforts and a shared commitment to driving real income and livelihood growth for J&K’s farmers,” he said.
The CS said that in HADP, emphasis is being laid on ecosystem services and restoration and sustainable utilisation of biodiversity to efficiently use bio-resources for food, feed and industry.
He also shared various key interventions and necessary steps being taken by the J&K Government to make the farmers of Jammu Kashmir entrepreneurs par excellence.
Terming Kisan Khidmat Ghars as another big success of HADP, Dulloo said that these will serve as one-stop service hubs, offering comprehensive support, from input supply to marketing and technological assistance to our farmer community. Vice Chancellor SKUAST, Secretary Agriculture, Director Agriculture, scientists, academicians, farmers and students were present during the event.
