Govt committed to creating farmer-friendly future: CM Omar Abdullah

Srinagar, Feb 24: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Monday said that the government was committed to creating a farmer-friendly ecosystem in Jammu and Kashmir.

After attending the live streaming of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s address from Bhagalpur, Bihar, marking the release of the 19th instalment of the PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana at Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST-K), Shalimar Campus, CM Omar said, “The government remains committed to creating a farmer-friendly ecosystem that promotes agricultural sustainability and long-term growth.”

As chief guest, the CM joined participants, including Minister for Agriculture Production Javaid Ahmad Dar, Members of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly representing Hazratbal, Sonawar and Chanapora constituencies, as well as progressive, marginal and small-scale farmers, and entrepreneurs from various parts of the district.

Vice Chancellor SKUAST-K, Nazir Ahmad Ganai; Principal Secretary, Agriculture Production, Shalender Kumar; Commissioner Secretary, Science and Technology, Saurabh Bhagat; and other senior officials were also present at the event.

The CM commended the innovative farmers recognised during the event saying, “Their contributions in adopting progressive techniques, particularly in natural and organic farming would be instrumental in transforming the agricultural landscape of Jammu and Kashmir.”

Earlier, he inaugurated the Agri-Tech Exhibition organised by SKUAST-K.

The exhibition featured a wide array of stalls displayed by successful farmers, progressive cultivators, agripreneurs, agri-industrialists, Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs), and various university-led initiatives.

Inspecting over 100 stalls, the CM observed exhibits highlighting farmers’ welfare schemes, advanced agricultural inputs, farm machinery, and organic products.

He also visited start-ups led by SKUAST-K students and faculty, commending their role in driving agricultural innovation.

Interacting with agripreneurs, agri-industrialists, and FPOs, CM Omar emphasised the importance of such exhibitions, saying, “These platforms provide farmers with access to reliable, updated, and practical information, empowering them to adopt modern and sustainable farming practices.”

He was briefed on key exhibits focused on natural and organic farming, as well as Geographical Indication (GI)-tagged products unique to the region.

The exhibition also featured live demonstrations of advanced farming technologies, aimed at equipping farmers with modern tools and methods to enhance productivity and sustainability.