J&K’s agriculture, horticulture are set to experience significant growth through 29 projects: Atal DullooThe Jammu and Kashmir Government has approved 29 projects under Holistic Agriculture Development Programme (HADP). To know more about these projects, Rising Kashmir Reporter, Syeda Rafiyah interviews Additional Chief Secretary, Agriculture Production Department, Atal Dulloo, who talks about measures being taken to further push agriculture, horticulture and allied sectors in Jammu and Kashmir.
What is the department doing to improve the horticulture sector?
J&K has been striving to improve the horticulture sector through various initiatives. Efforts are on to introduce new technologies and improve the quality of planting material. One of the key programs is the promotion of High-Density Plantation (HDP) systems, which has potential to increase productivity and income in fruit crops like apple, walnut etc. by more than twice the current levels. The APD is also implementing a new project on HD fruit production with the aim to develop 390 hectares of nurseries in public and private sectors, rejuvenate 2,000 hectares of orchard areas, and produce planting material to cover 5,500 hectares under HDP of 12 fruit crops.
What are the major initiatives being undertaken to uplift agriculture sector?
The govt. has initiated several projects to uplift agriculture and allied sectors in the region, which contribute to over 18% of the state’s GDP and provide livelihoods for over 13 lakh families. The state’s agriculture model has relied on subsistence-based agriculture, which has faced challenges such as low productivity, shrinking farmer margins, and climate change. To overcome these challenges, the government has proposed 29 projects that will strengthen the backbone of J&K’s rural economy. The projects will introduce cutting-edge technologies and innovations to help farmers grow more with fewer resources, promote technology infusion in the agricultural sector, and focus on value chain development. These projects have an outlay of more than Rs. 5000 crores over the next five years. To effectively implement these projects, the Agriculture Production Department has trained over 5000 departmental employees across cadres, launched a mass farmer orientation program, developed an innovative IT dashboard to facilitate farmers’ access to the Horticulture and Agriculture Development Projects (HADP), and launched a ground breaking Hybrid Skilling initiative with the name “DAKSH KISAN,” offering over 121 certification courses to farmers and rural communities. The outcomes of these projects will be in the form of creation of 2.88 lakh jobs, 18,861 enterprises, and skill development of over 2.5 lakh youth to create an ecosystem of “argipreneurs.
“What is digital agriculture mission, what it is all about and when will it become a reality?
The development of an Agristack under Digital Agriculture Mission has been recognized as a crucial step in unlocking the potential of digital technologies and ICTs in the agricultural sector. In line with this, the Union Ministry of Agriculture is finalizing the “India Digital Ecosystem of Agriculture (IDEA),” which provides a framework for building the Agristack. The IDEA Ecosystem is designed to aid the government in effectively planning and executing initiatives aimed at increasing farmers’ income and improving the overall efficiency of the agriculture sector. The Ministry is collaborating with leading technology companies and Agritechs to conduct pilot projects in different states.
What is being done to encourage youth to take part in entrepreneurship in agriculture and horticulture?
There are number of schemes where benefits are extended for building entrepreneurship in agriculture sector and youth are encouraged to establish agri- businesses like Prime Minister Formalization of Micro Food Processing (PMFME) wherein 35% subsidy is provided for primary and secondary of agriculture products, Agriculture Infrastructure Fund offers 3% interest subvention and credit guarantee upto ₹ 2.00 cr for post-harvest management of agriculture produce. There are huge incentives under CSS like MIDH, PMDP and recently launched UT schemes. One of the major outputs of the Holistic Agriculture Development Program is creation of 18861 enterprises and creation of 2,87,910 jobs over the next 5 years. There are huge opportunities for youth in all the 29 projects of HADP.The Agriculture Production Department has proposed GI tag for 24 crops and products. What is its status? How will it help to improve farmer income?Our team is currently working on obtaining GI tags for 24 crops and products, and I am personally overseeing the progress. We have completed all formalities and are now preparing to submit applications for GI tagging of products to the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT). Some of the products included are Ambri Apple, Shallot, Red Rice, Walnut, Kashmiri Haakh, Naakh tang, and others.
Farmers face post-harvest losses. What is being done to prevent it ?
Post-harvest losses are a significant concern, primarily resulting from inadequate post-harvest management. We aim to address this issue by establishing an adequate number of controlled atmosphere stores (CA Stores) under the HADP program. Additionally, we are providing incentives for primary processing infrastructure such as hi-tech grading lines, portable grading lines, reefer vans, pickup vans, mini cold stores, etc., to ensure that the produce is handled and processed efficiently.We are also offering incentives to establish low-cost primary processing units such as jelly and jam making under the MIDH, PMDP, and UT capex programs. To encourage more processing units, the PMFME scheme provides a 35% subsidy for establishing a processing unit. Lastly, people should consider availing subsidies under the Industrial Development Scheme to establish an Apple concentrate plant, which could offer significant benefits.
There is a dire need to introduce appropriate technologies in the hilly areas of J&K particularly in disadvantaged sections of the society. How do you see this?
The hilly regions pose several challenges due to their remote, fragile, marginal, and poor soil conditions. To address these challenges, the Holistic Agriculture Development Program has initiated four projects: Development of Rainfed Areas, Alternate Agriculture Systems for Sustainability, Integrated Farming Systems, and Farm Mechanization. These projects focus on the promotion of integrated or mixed farming, introducing area-specific farm machinery, incentivizing natural and organic farming, and creating awareness regarding crop diversification. Through these efforts, the program aims to enhance the development of hill agriculture, ensuring sustainable growth and prosperity in the region.
The paddy land is shrinking day by day. What is being done to stop it?
The reduction of paddy land can be attributed to several factors. Firstly, most farmers in J&K have small landholdings, making it difficult to sustain paddy cultivation. Additionally, factors such as lack of irrigation, rapid urbanization, and other environmental factors also contribute to this trend. Another significant reason is the preference of farmers for cultivating high-value crops such as exotic vegetables, spices, medicinal plants, and other remunerative crops. This has led to the conversion of paddy lands into high-density orchards due to the lack of sufficient irrigation facilities. However, it should be noted that productivity is more crucial than the area under cultivation. The Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST) has made remarkable progress in developing high-yielding and disease-resistant varieties of paddy, resulting in a manifold increase in production and productivity. Presently, the annual paddy production stands at 5.816 lakh MT and efforts are underway to obtain a GI tag for Mushkbudji and Red Rice. Additionally, the HADP seed project is focusing on improving the seed replacement rate to 33%, which is expected to significantly enhance productivity.
At some places farmers have shifted from paddy to maize crop due to lack of irrigation. Isn’t it a challenge for farming?
The concept of climate smart agriculture (CSA) has emerged as a means to address the challenges posed by climate change to the agricultural sector. Diversification of food crops is a key component of CSA that helps farmers to adapt to the impacts of climate variability. In traditional farming systems, farmers often rely on a few staple crops for their livelihoods, but this can make them vulnerable to total crop failure if extreme weather events occur.
With the changing weather patterns and unpredictable rainfall, farmers are experiencing difficulties in deciding which crop to cultivate that will provide a good yield. Diversification of food crops can provide a solution to this problem by reducing the risk of total crop failure. By growing different crops, farmers can reduce the dependence on a single crop, and if one crop fails due to unfavorable weather conditions, they can still rely on other crops for their income and food security. That is why in some areas farmers are shifting from paddy cultivation to maize cultivation.
However, farmers may not diversify their crops if it is less profitable than the current cropping system. Thus, it is important to ensure that diversification is not only beneficial for climate adaptation but also economically viable for farmers. In this regard, agricultural extension services and government policies can play a vital role in promoting the adoption of climate-smart agricultural practices, including diversification of cropping patterns from paddy to maize.
What area is under organic cultivation in Kashmir?
Due to its pristine Himalayan topography, Kashmir is an ideal location for organic farming, and the brand “Kashmir” is recognized both nationally and internationally. Currently, around 50,000 hectares of land in Jammu and Kashmir is used for organic farming, with 22,316 hectares being certified as organic. To further boost organic food production and support the economic well-being of farmers in the region, the Jammu and Kashmir government has launched the Holistic Agriculture Development Program.
Where do you see jK’s agriculture and horticulture in the next five years?
The agriculture and horticulture sector in Jammu & Kashmir is all set to experience significant growth in the coming years through the implementation of 29 interventions approved by the J&K Government. These interventions are expected to create around 19,000 new enterprises in the agriculture sector and generate an additional 2.8 lakh jobs, leading to an increase in the Agricultural GDP from Rs 37,559 crores to Rs 65,701 crores over the next five years. What is being done to check the trade of sub-standard fertilizers the complaints of which pour in every year? Do we have any mechanism to check their quality?The Government of India ensures that farmers have access to quality fertilizers at subsidized rates. The GoI has set up about 28 advanced quality control laboratories across the nation to monitor the quality of fertilizers. There is a dedicated enforcement team that inspects the sale of substandard fertilizers and takes samples from fertilizer dealers for testing. Farmers are advised to always obtain a proper receipt bill from the fertilizer dealer. In case of any disputes concerning the quality of fertilizers, farmers can approach the authorities for legal resolution. The license of fraudulent dealers can be revoked after due process.
