Govt unveils major initiatives for agriculture expansion in Chenani

Pulwama, Mar 11: The Jammu and Kashmir government has outlined a series of initiatives to expand agricultural production in the Chenani constituency of Udhampur district.
These measures were presented by the Minister Incharge of Agriculture Production Department in response to a starred question raised by MLA Chenani, Balwant Singh Mankotia, in the Legislative Assembly.
The minister informed the House that 1,150 farmers in Chenani have benefited under various projects of the Holistic Agriculture Development Programme (HADP) during 2024-25.
He said 366 farmers have been covered under multiple Centrally Sponsored Schemes, including Per Drop More Crop (PDMC), Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY), Sub Mission on Agriculture Mechanization (SMAM), Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY), and National Food Security Mission (NFSM).
The House was also informed that 18,515 farmers in Chenani have been enrolled under the PM-KISAN income support scheme. A majority of them are linked with Kisan Credit Cards (KCC) to ensure financial inclusivity and economic empowerment.
The government said it has placed a special focus on horticulture development, benefiting 57 farmers under HADP and 165 farmers under schemes like Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH), PDMC, National Mission on Edible Oils – Tree Borne Oil (NMEO-TBOS), and UT Capex during 2024-25.
To boost niche crops, the government has prioritised the cultivation of Hill Garlic and promotion of traditional and exotic vegetables under the CAPEX Budget and HADP 2024-25, the minister said.
“In addition, Sewna and Latti blocks have been selected for the National Mission on Natural Farming in 2025-26. Further promotion of Hill Garlic, Maize, Vegetables, Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, and Pulses will be undertaken in Chenani and Latti blocks under the JKCIP project in 2025-26,” he said.
To increase farmers’ incomes, the minister said the government has planned area expansion through the plantation of high-density Apple, Walnut, Pear, and Kiwi orchards in the coming years. “Major irrigation infrastructure projects have been proposed for 2025-26, including Check Dams, Water Storage Tanks, Water Harvesting Tanks, and Potable Geotags,” he said.
The minister informed that efforts will be made to rejuvenate old orchards, converting them into high-density plantations with elite cultivars. He added that the government has initiated Lavender cultivation in the foothills and wastelands of Block Latti on an experimental basis.
Under HADP, a Farmer Producer Cluster (FPC) has been established, covering 8 hectares in various Panchayats of Block Latti, benefiting 44 farmers, the minister said.