KisanSamparkAbhiyan 3.0 across the J&K soon
Says this year, paddy cultivation spans 1,27,167 hectares of land in Kashmir
Anantnag, Jun 12:Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha emphasized the pivotal role of farmers in driving the economic growth of Jammu and Kashmir during his visit to JabliporaBijbehara in South Kashmir’s Anantnag district on Wednesday. Speaking at a Paddy Transplantation Day program organized by the agriculture department, Sinha lauded the transformation in the agricultural sector and the increasing interest of youth in pursuing careers in agriculture and allied activities.
“There was a time when agriculture held little interest for people. Today, degree-holding youth are generating their own livelihoods and contributing significantly to J&K’s prosperity,” said Sinha. He praised the youth and farmers participating in the Holistic Agriculture Development Programme (HADP) for their contributions to the region’s and the country’s prosperity and encouraged others to take advantage of the HADP scheme.
Sinha highlighted the extensive cultivation underway in Kashmir, noting that paddy is being grown on 127,167 hectares, maize on 68,340 hectares, vegetables on 4,884 hectares, saffron on 3,665 hectares, and fodder on 36,653 hectares this year alone. He assured that both farmers and the agriculture department are well-prepared for the farming season, with crop-specific targets set for the Kharif season.
“I urge that farmers receive their critical inputs without any hurdles. Officers below the district level must address any issues and grievances of the farmers. If farmers wish to adopt innovative technology, they should be assisted so that high-value crops can be cultivated, enabling our farmers to progress,” he stated.
Sinha also commended the hard work and dedication of farmers during the recent Rabi seasons, which have led to new records. He noted the transformation brought by mustard cultivation, which now covers thousands of hectares of previously uncultivated land, generating ₹5000 crore in revenue for the Kashmir division last season.
“On this paddy transplantation festival day, I remind farmers that over the past ten years, PM Modi has made significant efforts to uplift farmers’ opportunities, secure reasonable rates, and ensure they receive due respect in society,” he said.
Sinha acknowledged the long-standing challenges faced by J&K farmers, many of whom were mired in poverty and left to their own devices. “Through the efforts of PM Modi and the J&K administration, numerous schemes benefiting farmers have succeeded. Our aim is for J&K farmers to become the financial growth engine of the region. I urge others to participate in this progress and support the mission of crop diversification and radical change,” he added.
He also mentioned the success of the KisanSamparkAbhiyan, which connected with 12 lakh farmers and will be launched for the third time to further improve and deliver schemes to farmers more effectively across J&K.
“For the convenience of farmers engaged in fruit or vegetable farming, the J&K administration is setting up modern cold storage facilities in all 20 districts, which will be product-specific. Additionally, the administration is working on establishing food processing centers,” he announced.
Mohammad Yousuf Gorsi, Chairman DDC Anantnag; ShShailendra Kumar, Principal Secretary, Agriculture Production Department; Vidhi Kumar Birdi, IGP Kashmir; Dr. Syed Fakhrudin Hamid, Deputy Commissioner Anantnag; HoDs, senior officials, farmers, stakeholders and people in large number were present.
Meanwhile, Lieutenant Governor ManojSinhaalso today conducted the on-site inspection and reviewed ongoing construction work of the Office and YatriNiwas of ShriAmarnathji Shrine Board at Pantha Chowk, Srinagar.
The Lt Governor directed for accelerating the pace of works and timely completion of the project.
The Lt Governor was accompanied by DrMandeep Kumar Bhandari, Principal Secretary to Lt Governor & CEO ShriAmarnathJi Shrine Board; Sh Vijay Kumar Bidhuri, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir and ShVidhi Kumar Birdi, IGP Kashmir and officials from other concerned departments.
