Principal Secretary, Agriculture Production Department, Shailendra Kumar, emphasised the pivotal role of agriculture and allied sectors in realizing the vision of Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, during a mega farmers interaction program held at the frontier village of Chakroi, Ranbir Singh Pura here.
While addressing the gathering at Fruit Plant Nursery of Department of Horticulture Jammu, the Principal Secretary stressed the importance of reaching the agricultural community in far-flung areas of Jammu region. He expressed his commitment towards addressing the diverse needs and challenges faced by farmers, highlighting the necessity for robust communication channels between stakeholders.
The event witnessed participation of District Development Council member, Taranjit Singh Tony; Director Horticulture/ Agriculture Jammu, Ram Sevak; Director Horticulture Kashmir, G. R. Mir; Director Agriculture Kashmir, Chowdhury Mohammad Iqbal; Joint Director Horticulture and other concerned from Horticulture and Agriculture departments.
During the interactive session, farmers from various districts of Jammu region voiced their concerns, ranging from farming practices to broader agricultural issues. The Principal Secretary assured prompt resolution of issues raised during the programme and issued on-the-spot directions to the concerned officers in this regard.
Shailendra Kumar said that in a bid to bolster agricultural resilience and foster growth, a plan for 29 projects has been sanctioned by the Apex Committee for Holistic Development of Agriculture and allied sectors.
Speaking on the occasion, Director Horticulture Jammu, Ram Sevak, highlighted ongoing developmental works at the nursery spanning 805 kanal. He emphasized incorporation of cutting-edge technologies to ensure production of high quality fruit plants, aligned with market demands.
During a comprehensive inspection, Principal Secretary toured state-of-the-art protected cultivation structures, including Hi-Tech poly greenhouses and automated irrigation systems. Shailendra Kumar displayed keen interest in understanding the nuances of advanced agricultural technologies, signaling a commitment towards innovation-driven growth.
Also, he evaluated the progress of infrastructure development for laboratories, including Tissue Culture, Virus Indexing and Bio-control Laboratories, highlighting government's investment in research and development.Earlier, Shailendra Kumar planted a sapling of Guava at the Fruit Plant Nursery.