SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Government on Tuesday informed the Legislative Assembly that the Holistic Agriculture Development Programme (HADP) has accelerated growth across agriculture, horticulture and allied sectors, with measurable gains in crop insurance coverage, irrigation, horticulture expansion, dairy processing and honey production.
The Agriculture Production Department, which oversees the Agriculture, Horticulture and Animal, Sheep and Fisheries sectors, placed detailed data before the House outlining sector-wise milestones and outcomes.
Under crop risk management, the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana has been implemented in all 20 districts. During Kharif 2025, over 2.01 lakh farmers were covered. Farmer coverage recorded a rise of over 57 per cent in 2026 compared to 2025. Claims amounting to Rs 40.28 crore are under process. The Restructured Weather Based Crop Insurance Scheme has also been announced for horticulture crops.
To enhance water-use efficiency, the government has approved a proposal of Rs 116.86 crore to provide a 25 per cent top-up subsidy for micro irrigation systems through the Micro Irrigation Fund to be financed by NABARD. This enables farmers to avail 80 per cent subsidy for drip and sprinkler systems, including 55 per cent under the Per Drop More Crop component and 25 per cent under the Micro Irrigation Fund.
In Command Area Development, out of 4.53 lakh hectares of irrigation potential created, 2.05 lakh hectares had been utilised up to March 31, 2025. An additional 18,441 hectares were brought under irrigation during 2025-26, taking total utilisation to 2.23 lakh hectares. A further 16,207 hectares are proposed to be covered during 2026-27.
Under HADP, 2,000 Kisan Khidmat Ghars are being established as one-stop farmer service centres. So far, 1,309 centres are operational, including 501 Phase I centres functional since August 2024 and 808 added in the current rollout. The remaining 691 centres are to be made functional shortly. On the KKG-Kisan Sathi platform, 8.02 lakh farmers and 2.8 lakh farm stands are registered, with 4.09 lakh farmers already served through advisories, input facilitation and e-governance services.
Crop diversification efforts have improved the Seed Replacement Rate from 12 per cent to 22 per cent with distribution of 2.60 lakh quintals of quality seed. Productivity gains ranging between 15 and 45 per cent have been recorded. Heritage crops such as Mushkbudji rice, Kalazeera, Bhaderwah Rajma and Zagg rice have been revived and linked to premium markets.
Mushroom production has increased by 31 per cent over the past three years, rising from 2,100 metric tonnes to 2,742 metric tonnes. The growth has been supported by establishment of 227 mushroom units, 30 controlled-environment cropping rooms and distribution of 1.18 lakh compost bags.
Beekeeping has emerged as a flagship success under HADP and centrally sponsored schemes. Honey production has increased by 77 per cent over three years, from 2,200 metric tonnes to over 3,895 metric tonnes.
Jammu and Kashmir has improved its national ranking in honey production from 15th to 10th position. The growth has been supported by distribution of 1.03 lakh bee colonies, establishment of 11 honey processing units, operationalisation of two honey testing laboratories and creation of nine marketing centres. At the national level, Uttar Pradesh ranks first with annual production of around 42,000 metric tonnes.
Oilseed cultivation has also expanded from 1.40 lakh hectares to 2.10 lakh hectares over three years, nearly doubling production. Thirteen oil extraction units have been established to support value addition.
The High Density Plantation scheme has covered 1,119.21 hectares up to December 2025 against a target of 5,500 hectares, with financial assistance of Rs 138.57 crore provided to farmers. Additionally, 18,915 hectares have been brought under medium-density plantations.
Fruit production increased from 26.43 lakh metric tonnes in 2023-24 to 26.92 lakh metric tonnes in 2024-25, with a target of 29.72 lakh metric tonnes by 2029-30. Around 1,500 hectares have been covered under high density plantation by farmers in the private sector without government assistance. During 2026-27, 1,455 hectares will be covered under high and medium density plantations with an allocation of Rs 70 crore.
Controlled Atmosphere storage infrastructure has expanded to 67 operational units with a combined capacity of 2.92 lakh metric tonnes against an assessed requirement of 6 lakh metric tonnes. An additional 15,000 metric tonnes capacity is being added this year, taking total capacity to 3.07 lakh metric tonnes. Eight new CA stores with 38,000 metric tonnes capacity are planned during 2026-27, which will raise total capacity to 3.45 lakh metric tonnes.
In nursery development, a mega public sector fruit nursery has been commissioned at Chakroi, RS Pura, over 805 kanals with annual capacity of 5 lakh saplings of subtropical fruits. Across the Union Territory, 386 nurseries produce 53.27 lakh saplings annually. Two elite nurseries are being developed at Marta in Udhampur and Lehwan in Anantnag to ensure disease-free planting material.
During 2026-27, horticulture nurseries aim to produce 8 lakh planting material and 17.84 lakh rootstock plants, while bringing 1,355 hectares under fruit crops. Six hectares of mother orchards, 15 hectares of rootstock banks and 40 hectares of propagation units will be established, and 600 hectares of orchards rejuvenated.
Under the Jammu and Kashmir Dairy Processing Infrastructure Development Scheme, organised milk processing is targeted to rise from 5 per cent to 12 per cent, with handling capacity of 10 lakh litres per day. A 50,000 litres per day Ultra-High Temperature plant at Satwari has been commissioned. Additional plants have been announced in the 2026-27 Budget.
The initiative is projected to increase cooperative turnover from Rs 407 crore to Rs 1,898 crore and generate nearly Rs 300 crore additional annual income for around 3 lakh farmers. A complementary Dairy Value Chain Infrastructure Expansion programme under the Pradhan Mantri Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises scheme proposes 1,000 milk value addition units over five years with 50 per cent subsidy support, creating 3 lakh litres per day additional processing capacity and generating 6,000 to 7,500 jobs.
The Livestock sector is undergoing genetic upgradation through phased establishment of 20 Embryo Transfer Technology laboratories. Three NABARD-funded projects have been approved. Introduction of 900 Boer and Swiss Alpine goats and 900 Romanov and Finn sheep by 2027-28 is planned to strengthen breed improvement.
A One Health Livestock Traceability and Genetic Improvement Programme will be launched during 2026-27 with Radio Frequency Identification-based tagging of animals beginning with government breeding farms at an outlay of Rs 2 crore. The initiative aims to strengthen disease surveillance, control zoonotic diseases and improve food safety standards.
The government said the integrated interventions under HADP are repositioning agriculture and allied sectors as growth engines of the Union Territory economy, with emphasis on productivity enhancement, infrastructure creation and market-linked expansion.
