Div Com Kashmir calls for digital push, high-yield crops to boost farmers’ income
Srinagar, Sep 11: Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Anshul Garg, on Wednesday pressed for a stronger focus on high-yield crops, integrated farming, and digital market linkages while reviewing Centrally Sponsored and Union Territory schemes under the Holistic Agriculture Development Programme (HADP).
Chairing a review meeting with officers of the Agriculture and Sericulture departments, Garg stressed that government schemes must deliver “visible and measurable” results at the grassroots. He directed officials to bridge the gap between targets and achievements, ensuring farmers benefit directly from interventions.
Highlighting the importance of market reforms, Garg asked departments to integrate Kashmir’s produce with larger e-commerce platforms such as Amazon to secure higher returns for growers. “Digital platforms must not remain on paper. They should translate into real market access for our farmers,” he said.
The Div Com also called on the Agriculture Department to step up the distribution of scientifically advanced, high-yielding crop varieties to improve per hectare productivity. He urged farmers to diversify into remunerative sectors such as mushroom cultivation and sericulture as part of integrated farming models that can raise incomes.
“The focus has to be on prolific production and enhanced livelihoods. We need tangible improvements in incomes across rural areas,” Garg emphasized.
During the meeting, the Director of Agriculture gave an overview of the sector, including the current cultivation area, irrigation facilities, productivity levels, and future plans aimed at sustainability and food security. Officials informed that 16 schemes are being implemented under HADP, alongside other CSS and UT interventions.
The Sericulture Department also shared its strategy to scale up silk production, underlining the need to revive the sector’s historical significance in Kashmir’s rural economy.
Officials said the push for modern techniques, integrated farming, and digital access is aimed at transforming agriculture into a more profitable and resilient sector in the Valley.
