SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly on Sunday passed the Demands for Grants for multiple key sectors, including Agriculture Production, Rural Development, Cooperative, and Election Departments, allocating substantial funds to drive economic growth.
The approved grants include Rs 2,58,369.98 lakh for the Agriculture Production Department, Rs 1,22,899.58 lakh for Animal and Sheep Husbandry, Rs 22,524.86 lakh for Fisheries, Rs 4,75,485.95 lakh for Rural Development, Rs 70,429.33 lakh for Horticulture, Rs 35,960.43 lakh for the Election Department, and Rs 9,642.4 lakh for the Cooperatives Department.
Winding up the discussion on the grants, Agriculture and Rural Development Minister Javid Ahmad Dar highlighted the sector’s significant contribution to J&K’s economy, stating that agriculture and allied activities account for 18 per cent of the State Gross Domestic Product (SGDP), amounting to Rs 37,559 crore. He noted that horticulture alone contributes 41 per cent of this, while livestock and core agriculture activities contribute 33 per cent and 25 per cent, respectively.
Agricultural and Rural Initiatives
The Minister announced that under the High-Density Plantation (HD) Scheme, 836 hectares have been covered with high-density orchards, including 174 hectares in the current financial year. A record budget of Rs 70 crore has been allocated for 2025-26 to modernise fruit cultivation.
In the livestock sector, the government has established 3,220 dairy units under the Integrated Dairy Development Scheme, creating employment for nearly 5,000 people. Additionally, 2,170 sheep and goat units were set up under the Integrated Sheep Development Scheme, and 900 high-quality Texel and Dorper sheep will be imported from Australia.
The government has also expanded its fisheries programme, establishing 210 trout units, six Recirculating Aquaculture System (RAS) units, and eight biofloc units during 2024-25.
Under the Holistic Agriculture Development Programme (HADP), 29 projects are underway, with a focus on irrigation expansion. The government plans to bring 22,933 hectares under assured irrigation in 2025-26, with 18 ongoing projects and 14 new projects worth Rs 48.83 crore sanctioned.
Employment and Infrastructure Initiatives
The Minister announced that 4,000 new dairy units will be established across J&K in 2025-26, creating employment for over 7,000 youth. Additionally, 2,500 sheep and goat farms and 1,000 new poultry units will be set up.
The Jammu & Kashmir Competitiveness Improvement Project (JKCIP) is being launched with support from the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) to enhance agricultural value chains. Meanwhile, four new agriculture markets (mandis) will be set up in Samba, Reasi, Kishtwar, and Bandipora.
The Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) provided crop insurance to 1.48 lakh farmers during the Rabi season, covering 60,556 hectares, and to 60,178 farmers in Kharif, covering 20,561 hectares. For the first time, crops such as apple, saffron, mango, and litchi will be insured under the Restructured Weather-Based Crop Insurance Scheme (RWBCIS) in 2025-26.
Rural Development and Cooperative Sector Reforms
The Minister also announced a major push for rural employment, with 3,13,567 works planned under MGNREGA, targeting 395 lakh person-days of employment in 2025-26. The government has also identified 8,239 projects under a UT Convergence Plan, integrating 19 departments for rural development.
J&K has achieved 100 per cent Open Defecation Free (ODF+) status under the Swachh Bharat Mission–Grameen (SBM-G). As part of ongoing sanitation initiatives, 30,000 individual household toilets, 2,744 community sanitary complexes, and 16 GOBARdhan plants will be established.
The J&K Rural Livelihood Mission (UMEED) has formed over 90,000 Self-Help Groups (SHGs), and the government is implementing the Lakhpati Didi initiative to promote women’s financial independence.
In the cooperative sector, 4340 cooperative societies are operational, spanning dairy, poultry, agriculture, and housing. The computerisation of 537 Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) is in progress with an investment of Rs 17.05 crore. Additionally, 14 mini super bazaars are being built, with 12 more planned for the next financial year.
The PM Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME) Scheme has already cleared 1,743 applications, with 1,326 enterprises sanctioned and 1,000 new units targeted for 2025-26.
Several legislators, including Sajad Shaheen, Payare Lal Sharma, Surjeet Singh Salathia, and Showkat Hussain Ganie, spoke on the grants, offering suggestions and seeking further clarifications. Eventually, the House passed the grants by voice vote after all cut motions were withdrawn.
The Minister concluded by affirming that the government is committed to transforming J&K’s agrarian economy, aiming to increase the sector’s contribution from Rs 37,559 crore to Rs 1 lakh crore within five years, while generating 2.8 lakh new jobs and creating 2.5 lakh skilled farmers and agripreneurs.
