SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir’s Holistic Agriculture Development Programme (HADP) is poised to create over 2.8 lakh jobs and establish nearly 19,000 agri-enterprises as part of its ambitious plan to modernise the agriculture sector.
The programme, which includes 29 sub-projects, aims to enhance livelihoods through initiatives such as farm mechanisation, niche crop promotion, beekeeping, and mushroom cultivation. Additionally, 2.5 lakh individuals will be trained in diverse agricultural practices, including precision farming, organic agriculture, and high-density fruit farming.
To date, subsidies for around 11,000 units have been fully disbursed under the initiative, reflecting significant progress in its implementation. The Daksh Kisan educational portal, which offers 161 courses, is playing a crucial role in skilling farmers. Meanwhile, nearly 4000 events under the Kisan Sampark Abhiyan have reached over 1.85 lakh farmers, covering 92 per cent of the region’s panchayats, further strengthening farmer outreach and engagement.
During a review meeting chaired by Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo, senior officials and district representatives were urged to focus on achieving the programme’s targets and addressing underperforming areas. Dulloo emphasised the need for district administrations to conduct regular reviews and for the Mission Director to monitor individual officers for necessary course corrections.
The meeting reviewed the progress of various sub-projects, including farm mechanisation, the development of fodder resources, seed multiplication, niche crop promotion, and exotic vegetable cultivation. Efforts to strengthen agricultural marketing, medicinal and aromatic plant cultivation, sericulture, millet promotion, and self-sufficiency in mutton production were also highlighted.
The Chief Secretary was briefed about the district-level approval rate for project applications, which stands at around 74 per cent. Initiatives like Kisan Khidmat Ghars and Krishi Udhyamis are being tracked through a real-time monitoring portal developed by BISAG-N to ensure efficiency in implementation.
Principal Secretary of the Agriculture Production Department, Shailendra Kumar, presented an overview of the programme’s progress and reiterated the commitment to achieving annual targets under this five-year initiative. The programme’s interventions are expected to significantly boost Jammu and Kashmir’s agricultural productivity while generating employment and building a skilled workforce for the future.
