JAMMU, Jan 3: Today, Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo led a review meeting with the Agriculture Production Department to assess the execution of various sub-projects initiated under the flagship Holistic Agriculture Development Programme (HADP) in Jammu & Kashmir.
During the meeting, the Chief Secretary urged those present to prioritize the establishment of units across the different sub-projects within the program. He emphasized that this initiative is focused on specific targets with set milestones to be met periodically. The success of this program, he stated, will be measured by the activity-wise results observed in various districts which directly impact its potential to create employment in the Union Territory.
He also highlighted the importance of regularly reviewing the targets with the district administration to ensure that sectoral officers are diligently pursuing them. Additionally, he instructed the Mission Director to closely monitor each officer’s performance for necessary adjustments moving forward.
Dulloo also requested updates from the District Commissioners on the progress made under this ambitious initiative in their areas. He urged them to prioritize regions showing subpar performance. Furthermore, he reviewed the applications for projects received and approved by districts, alongside the units established and the status of funds allocated and used.
At the beginning of the meeting, Principal Secretary of the APD, Shailendra Kumar, provided an overview of the general progress of the program. He outlined the measures being taken by the department to meet the annual objectives established under this 5-year initiative.
It was reported that full subsidy disbursement had been completed for approximately 11,000 units under this mission thus far. It was also mentioned that the number of available courses would soon increase to 161 on the Daksh Kisan educational portal.
Additionally, around 4,000 events have been organized under Kisan Sampark Abhiyan 3.0, reaching a total attendance of over 185,000 farmers and covering nearly 92% of panchayats, as shared during the meeting.
Regarding the approval rates from district-level committees, it was noted that approximately 74% had been achieved. The meeting also addressed the performance and establishment of Kisan Khidmat Ghars and agricultural entrepreneurs in different districts. A portal is currently being developed through BISAG-N to monitor their real-time performance, enhancing operational efficiency, the meeting participants were informed.
The sub-projects reviewed included farm mechanization and automation, fodder resource development, seed and seed multiplication chain development, niche crop promotion, the cultivation of vegetables/exotic vegetables under open and protected conditions, strengthening agricultural marketing, the promotion of medicinal and aromatic plants, beekeeping, sericulture, millet and nutrient cereal promotion, achieving self-sufficiency in mutton production, and year-round mushroom cultivation, among others. Altogether, the plan encompasses twenty-nine projects, and the initiatives implemented under HADP are expected to generate employment for over 280,000 youth, with the establishment of around 19,000 enterprises.
Moreover, 250,000 individuals are projected to gain skills in diverse agricultural enterprises including seed production, precision vegetable farming, bee-rearing, cocoon production, mushroom farming, integrated and organic agriculture, high-density fruit farming, processing, dairying, sheep and poultry farming, and fodder production.
The meeting was attended by the Principal Secretary of APD, Principal Secretary of Finance, VC SKUAST J/K, MD of JK Bank, MD of HADP, Deputy Commissioners, Heads of Departments in APD, along with other relevant officers, while some outstation officers participated virtually.
