Jammu, Jan 28: Minister for Agricultural Production, Rural Development, Panchayati Raj, Cooperatives, and Election Departments, Javed Ahmad Dar, Tuesday stressed the need for adopting modern technologies to maximise agricultural productivity despite shrinking land holdings in J&K.
Speaking at the Gulistan News Conclave in Jammu, the Minister highlighted the government’s focus on modernising agriculture to address the challenges posed by urbanisation and limited land resources.
Dar underscored the critical role of innovation and technology in ensuring the optimal use of agricultural land. He noted the significant contributions of universities over the past three months, which have driven reforms and supported prosperity in the region’s agriculture sector.
The Minister urged farmers to embrace advanced techniques in agriculture and allied sectors to improve their yields and enhance their livelihoods. He acknowledged the pressures of urbanisation, which often lead rural populations to seek better opportunities in cities, but reassured the public that the government is implementing initiatives, such as the Holistic Agriculture Development Programme (HADP), to revolutionise the sector and sustain rural development. In reply to a query that since land is shrinking, how agriculture produce can be sustained, the Minister said that scientists from the SKAUST-K and SKAUST-J are working how less space can be utilised to ensure production doesn’t decrease.
Dar further called for trust in the administration, assuring citizens of the government’s commitment under Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s leadership to improving rural livelihoods and fulfilling public expectations. He reaffirmed that the government remains steadfast in its mission to bring transformative reforms to agriculture and enhance the overall well-being of rural communities. Replying to a query that there were reports that some Panchayats didn’t hoist the tri-colour on Republic Day, the Minister said that there was no specific government order for unfurling the national flag atop on all Panchayats but at all district headquarters, national flag was hoisted. About urbanisation, the Minister said that there is a reason behind that due to less facilities in rural areas, people prefer to shift base to urban areas. “It is not that rural areas aren’t developing. There are schools, roads, and other facilities as well but still people prefer to shift to urban areas,” he said. On the liabilities in Rural Development Department amounting to Rs 300 Cr with regard to MGNREGA, he said the matter has been taken up with the Centre and in the coming days, “I believe liabilities will be covered.” “The liability arose due to a breach in material costs during the 2016–17 period,” he said. The Minister assured that the government is actively engaging with central authorities to address this issue.
