CS for transforming KKGs into ‘instruments of change’ for farmers

Srinagar, Aug 13: Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo on Wednesday directed the Agriculture Production Department (APD) to transform Kisan Khidmat Ghars (KKGs) into vibrant multipurpose centres in villages, positioning them as “instruments of change” for the farming community across Jammu & Kashmir.Chairing a high-level meeting held to review the functioning of KKGs across the districts, the Chief Secretary described the initiative as a “phenomenal programme” conceptualised by the leading national experts, with the potential to accelerate agricultural growth, enhance farmer awareness and promote best farming practices. He emphasised that every farm family should have at least one member registered with a KKG. He highlighted the unique role of these centres in delivering timely advisories, customised guidance and awareness on modern, scientific farming techniques.To enhance their utility, the Chief Secretary directed for integration of the additional services into KKGs, including recognition as Common Service Centres (CSCs) for delivering various government services online, functioning as custom hiring centres for farm machinery and acting as Direct Selling Agents (DSAs) for banks to facilitate financial access.Dulloo asked the MD, Holistic Agriculture Development Programme (HADP), to prepare a comprehensive list of agriculture-related business ventures that Krishi Udhyamis (KUs) can establish at these centres. He asked the Deputy Commissioners to circulate success stories from the existing centres to inspire replication by others.Reviewing the status of KKGs established under Phases I and II, he sought updates from each Deputy Commissioner on their operational readiness, including availability of IT infrastructure such as desktops, printers and broadband, as well as licenses for sale of seeds, fertilisers and pesticides by eligible KUs.Principal Secretary, APD, Shailendra Kumar, directed the Deputy Commissioners to set strict timelines for operationalising newly established centres, noting that KUs had already been engaged. He asked for provisioning of essential IT equipment, adoption of Point of Sale (PoS) machines for fertiliser sales and proactive public outreach to boost farmer registrations and service uptake.MD, HADP, Sandeep Kumar, informed the meeting that under Phase I, 500 KKGs have been made operational across J&K, supported by a dedicated mobile application. Nearly 5 lakh farmers have registered on the KKG platform, with 1.25 lakh app downloads, 96% on Android devices. Rajouri district leads in farmer registrations with over 84,000 users.The KKG app now offers advanced features, including a decision-support system for cherry and apple growers, grievance ticket management and push notifications for advisories. A gamification-based registration system is also in place, with 23% of registered farmers achieving Level 2 registration.Under Phase II, 297 new centres are ready for launch in Jammu Division and 287 in Kashmir Division, significantly expanding the programme’s outreach and impact.The Chief Secretary underlined that the success of the KKG initiative reflects the collaborative efforts of the administration and the farming community, aiming to strengthen the agricultural sector through technology-driven, farmer-centric solutions. By offering integrated services, knowledge dissemination and business opportunities, KKGs are poised to play a transformative role in improving farmer livelihoods across Jammu & Kashmir.