Announces Rs 48 Cr in grants for 764 beneficiaries under HADP
Says inauguration of 500 Kisan Khidmat Ghars a key milestone in Agri dev
Unveils handbook on HADP & Agri credits guidelines
1500 more Kisan Khidmat Ghars to be set up by year-end
Srinagar, August 04: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha today addressed the Kisan Unnati Sammelan at the Shalimar Campus of SKUAST Kashmir and inaugurated 500 Kisan Khidmat Ghars (KKGs) across Jammu and Kashmir. This milestone marks the first phase of the Holistic Agriculture Development Program (HADP).
In his address, Lt Governor Sinha emphasized the Kisan Khidmat Ghars as crucial one-stop service hubs for farmers, offering comprehensive support including input supply, marketing assistance, and technological help. “The inauguration of 500 KKGs today is a significant step in our journey towards agricultural development in J&K,” he said.
He announced that an additional 1,500 KKGs will be established in the second phase, with completion expected by the end of the year. “Our goal is to empower 13 lakh farmer families, including nearly 3 lakh vulnerable and marginal farmers,” Sinha added.
The Lt Governor noted that KKGs, equipped with modern IT systems, will facilitate critical services such as input booking, soil health monitoring, plant diagnostics, and market intelligence. The Centres will also offer custom hiring services, Artificial Insemination, and horticultural support.
At the Sammelan, Sinha also launched the Kisan Khidmat Ghar mobile application, designed to provide farmers with tools for credit support, crop price forecasting, government scheme applications, expert consultations, and access to farming resources. “By integrating IoT, AI, and real-time data analytics, we are set to revolutionize our agricultural extension services,” he stated.
The Lt Governor reiterated the commitment of the UT Administration to transforming agriculture in Jammu and Kashmir. “The KKGs and the mobile application are just the beginning. We will continue to expand and enhance our services to ensure every farmer benefits,” he said.
Sinha praised the contributions of the HADP Apex Committee, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, and other stakeholders in implementing the Kisan Khidmat Ghar initiative. He also handed out sanction letters worth Rs 48 crore to 764 beneficiaries under HADP.
During the event, the Lt Governor visited stalls set up by agri-entrepreneurs and farmers, inaugurated the Office of Mission Directorate of HADP and JKCIP, and released a Handbook on HADP and Guidelines on Agriculture Credits.
Present at the Sammelan were Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo, Dr. Mangala Rai, former DG of ICAR and Chairman of the Apex Committee for HADP, Dr. Ashok Dalwai, and Sh. S. Krishnan, Secretary of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology. Agri-entrepreneurs and progressive farmers from across districts participated both in person and virtually.
