The inaugural ceremony, marking commencement of the Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan in Jammu & Kashmir, was held at Convention Centre Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST) Kashmir today, with Minister for Agriculture Production, Javid Ahmad Dar presiding over the event.
This 15-day Abhiyan aims to educate the farmers about modern, region-specific technologies for major Kharif crops, raise awareness about key government schemes and policies, promote use of Soil Health Cards for crop selection and balanced fertiliser application and collect grassroots feedback to guide farmer-centric innovations and agricultural research.
Addressing the gathering, the Minister encouraged the farmers to engage directly with the agricultural scientists, assuring them of dedicated support to address their queries and challenges. He highlighted the vast potential of agriculture and allied sectors to enhance the productivity through technology-driven practices.
“The government is committed towards supporting the farmers through various Central and UT schemes with the goal of increasing farm income and making agriculture a viable livelihood for the younger generation, stated the Minister.”
Principal Secretary, Agriculture Production Department, Shailendra Kumar, also addressed the audience, underscoring the department’s achievements and the transformative impact of government interventions in improving farmer livelihoods across the region.
As part of the event, a documentary film showcasing agricultural milestones in the Kashmir Division was screened and two publications related to agricultural advancements were formally released. Earlier, the Minister visited the Chrysanthemum Nursery to inspect the ongoing transplantation activities and review the progress on floriculture initiatives.
The event was attended by several dignitaries including Chairman DDC Srinagar, Altaf Malik; Member Legislative Assembly Hazratbal, Salman Sagar; Vice Chancellor SKUAST-K, Professor (Dr.) Nazir A. Ganai; and Director Extension, SKUAST-K, Dr. Raihana Habib Kanth.