SRINAGAR: Minister for Agriculture Production Department, Rural Development, Panchayati Raj, Cooperative and Election Departments, Javid Ahmad Dar, announced the establishment of a state-of-the-art agricultural testing laboratory in Baramulla. The facility is expected to play a key role in quality testing and research, significantly benefiting farmers and orchardists across north Kashmir.
Dar announced during his visit to Fruit Mandi Kanispora, where he interacted with members of the Fruit Growers Association, progressive orchardists, and farmers. Accompanied by MLAs Javaid Ahmad Beigh, Irshad Rasool Kar, Irfan Hafeez Lone, and senior officials from the Agriculture and Horticulture Departments, the Minister listened to various concerns and assured stakeholders that their issues would be addressed in a time-bound manner.
“The Agriculture Production Department is actively working to rationalise existing rules, and strict action will be taken against those violating agri norms,” he said, reaffirming the government’s commitment to ensuring transparency and efficiency in the sector.
The Minister also disclosed that cold storage facilities are being developed in Baramulla to minimise post-harvest losses and increase the shelf life and marketability of horticultural produce. He added that a Weather-Based Crop Insurance Scheme is expected to be launched soon to safeguard fruit growers against natural disasters and crop failures.
Later, the Minister conducted a field visit to multiple areas of Baramulla including Tujar Sharif, Harwan, Zaingeer, Zaloora, and the rain-fed zones of Bomai to assess irrigation facilities. He directed concerned departments to prepare Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) for setting up borewells in suitable locations to augment irrigation.
Highlighting a new NABARD-funded scheme aimed at developing community borewells in rain-fed areas, Dar said the government has also targeted the installation of 6,200 borewells under the Holistic Agriculture Development Programme (HADP) across Jammu and Kashmir.
The Minister emphasised that focused interventions in water-stressed and rain-fed areas were crucial for improving agricultural productivity and rural livelihoods. He called for enhanced inter-departmental coordination to ensure effective irrigation and water management solutions.
