SRINAGAR: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Saturday reaffirmed the Jammu and Kashmir Administration’s goal of transforming the Union Territory’s agriculture sector into a Rs 1 trillion economy by 2030. The remarks were made during the closing ceremony of the Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan at SKUAST Kashmir’s Mountain Research Centre for Field Crops, Khudwani-Kulgam.
The LG praised the initiative as a “transformative step” towards creating a resilient, modern, and prosperous agricultural landscape in J&K. He urged continued commitment to empowering every farmer and making them key stakeholders in India’s broader development journey under the vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047.
“Let us walk together towards a future where every field blooms with prosperity, every farmer thrives with dignity and every village becomes a symbol of development. With Sankalp (resolve) comes Shakti (strength), and with Shakti comes Vikas (development),” LG Sinha stated.
He underlined the administration’s efforts under the Holistic Agriculture Development Programme (HADP), launched in 2022, calling it a “revolutionary” move. The HADP, according to the LG, serves as a comprehensive strategy for sustainable farm growth and enhanced rural employment.
Highlighting inclusive development, the Lieutenant Governor reiterated a special focus on tribal farming communities, including Gujjars, Bakarwals, Paharis, and other Scheduled Tribes, who, he said, are custodians of Kashmir’s forests, mountains, and traditional ecological wisdom.
On the same occasion, LG Sinha called for the prompt extension of the PM Fasal Bima Yojana’s benefits to farmers engaged in the horticulture sector, instructing the Agriculture Minister to take necessary action.
The event also marked the beginning of the paddy transplantation season in the region. The LG commended the SKUAST scientists and congratulated the Mountain Research Centre for the development of 20 new rice varieties suited to Kashmir’s agro-ecology. These developments are expected to significantly enhance crop yields and sustainability.
He appealed to officials and scientists to ensure the awareness, reforms, and outreach achieved through the Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan are institutionalised in the region’s governance and policy frameworks. “Let this campaign not just end in ceremonies and reports, but continue to resonate in our policies, partnerships, and priorities,” he emphasised.
The campaign has so far reached more than 2.8 lakh farmers across Jammu and Kashmir, offering guidance on advanced, low-cost, and sustainable agricultural practices tailored to specific regional needs.
The ceremony was attended by a wide range of officials and stakeholders, including Shri Javid Ahmad Dar, Minister for Agriculture Production, and Ms Sakina Itoo, Minister for Education and Social Welfare, along with senior officers, scientists, researchers, and farmers from across the Union Territory.
A two-minute silence was observed in memory of citizens who lost their lives in the recent Pahalgam terror attack.
