Dr Mangla Rai-led Apex Committee briefs CM on two-yr progress
SRINAGAR, SEPT 09: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, while interacting with members of the Apex Committee for the Holistic Agriculture Development Programme (HADP), stressed the need for a comprehensive and sustainable roadmap for agricultural development in Jammu and Kashmir.
He called for an integrated approach to address critical challenges such as soil health, water management, modern farming techniques, market linkages, and farmer empowerment.
“Agriculture continues to be a pillar of J&K’s economy. Our government remains committed to creating an enabling environment for farmers by ensuring access to modern inputs, credit, technology, and markets,” the Chief Minister said.
Omar Abdullah emphasised the importance of diversification, promotion of horticulture, and allied sectors, especially in light of climate variability and shifting market trends. He also called for strengthening rural infrastructure and establishing a robust support system for small and marginal farmers, adding that Jammu and Kashmir is steadily emerging as a role model for agricultural transformation in the country.
The Chief Minister was briefed by Dr. Mangla Rai, former Director General of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and chairperson of the HADP Apex Committee, who presented a comprehensive two-year progress report on the implementation of the programme.
Dr. Rai outlined various initiatives undertaken to transform the agriculture and allied sectors and also submitted recommendations to improve programme outcomes. He explained that the Apex Committee is responsible for overseeing the rollout of HADP through evidence-based strategies aimed at improving the socio-economic conditions of farmers.
He also apprised the Chief Minister of the ongoing three-day midterm review (2023–2025) of HADP, currently underway at Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology – Kashmir (SKUAST-K). The review, which began yesterday, will continue over the next two days to assess progress and ensure alignment with programme goals.
The meeting was attended by leading agricultural experts, including: Dr. PK Joshi, Secretary, National Academy of Agricultural Sciences (NAAS), Dr. HS Gupta, former Director, Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), Prof. Nazir Ahmad Ganai, Vice Chancellor, SKUAST-K, Dr. BN Tripathi, Vice Chancellor, SKUAST-J, Dr. JP Sharma, former Vice Chancellor, SKUAST-J, Sandeep Kumar, Mission Director, HADP, J&K.
During the meeting, the Chief Minister also commended the Vice Chancellors of SKUAST-K and SKUAST-J for their efforts in strengthening the academic and research ecosystem of the universities. He particularly acknowledged their recent National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) rankings, 7th for SKUAST-K and 23rd for SKUAST-J, and termed them a reflection of their growing national relevance.
“The contributions of our agricultural universities in advancing research and field-level innovation are commendable. Their success is vital to the transformation of J&K’s farming landscape,” he said.
Omar Abdullah assured the Apex Committee that the government will continue to actively collaborate with all stakeholders involved in HADP to accelerate agricultural growth in the region. He reaffirmed that progressive policy interventions and scientific collaboration remain the backbone of the government’s strategy to empower J&K’s farming community.
