SRINAGAR: A Rs 150-crore Clean Plant Centre aimed at producing disease-free planting material for horticultural crops will be established in Srinagar under the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH), Union Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan announced during his two-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir.
The Union Minister, who chaired a review meeting with J and K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah at the Civil Secretariat in Srinagar, said the initiative will support the supply of pathogen-free, high-quality plant material for apples, walnuts, almonds, and berries — crops crucial to the Union Territory’s agrarian economy.
“The Clean Plant Centre will not only benefit farmers but also private nurseries that will be supported under this scheme,” Chouhan said while addressing the media alongside CM Omar Abdullah. He added that this step is crucial as imported plant materials often turn out to be infected a few years after cultivation.
Highlighting the government’s focus on Jammu and Kashmir’s unique agro-climatic potential, the minister also announced the establishment of a tissue culture lab and nursery to enhance saffron production, under a revised National Saffron Mission tailored to local conditions. He called saffron a “symbol of Kashmiri identity” and assured the deployment of expert scientists to raise productivity and reduce crop losses.
In response to long-standing demands, ICAR will extend support to Jammu Agricultural University for setting up infrastructure required for a Regional Horticulture Centre. A memorandum of understanding (MoU) will be signed to facilitate institutional cooperation.
Further, the Controlled Atmosphere (CA) storage capacity for horticultural produce will be subsidised up to 5,000 metric tonnes, even if facilities are constructed for 6,000 MT. The storage period will be increased from the current 18 months to 24 months, Chouhan announced.
Turning to rural development, Chouhan stated that 93 per cent of houses under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) have been completed in the Union Territory. The remaining beneficiaries from a verified list of over five lakh applicants will be allotted homes soon, he added.
He also noted the achievements under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY), where Rs 4,200 crore has been sanctioned for rural road connectivity under Phase IV. “Construction in the remaining areas will commence shortly,” the minister assured.
To strengthen regulatory and support infrastructure, Quality Control Labs for fertiliser and soil health will be set up in Baramulla, Kathua, and Anantnag. Additionally, irrigation infrastructure will be enhanced under the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) to bridge the gap from canal to field.
The Centre also plans to launch the Restructured Weather-Based Crop Insurance Scheme (RWBCIS) and ensure proper mapping of horticultural crops under PM Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY).
Chouhan said that farmers who were allotted land by the government but lack documentation may also be brought under the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN), and every eligible cultivator will be covered under the Kisan Credit Card (KCC) scheme.
In his remarks, Chouhan praised the role of Self Help Groups under the NRLM in uplifting rural women, noting that several women from the region have become “Lakhpati Didis” and even “Millionaire Didis”, earning over Rs 10 lakh per year.
He said the government is focusing on job creation in rural areas through schemes like MGNREGA, and youth training programmes would soon be launched in the Union Territory.
The Union Minister reiterated that the development of Jammu and Kashmir is vital to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a ‘Viksit Bharat’. He said the Central and UT governments will continue to work in close coordination to transform the region’s rural and agricultural economy.
