Govt focusing on niche crop, exotic vegetable cultivation in Udhampur: Javed Dar

Jammu, Mar 11: Minister for Agriculture Production, Javed Ahmad Dar, today informed the House that the Government is focusing to enhance area expansion under Niche Crops (Hill Garlic) and promotion of traditional and exotic vegetables across the Udhampur district under CAPEX Budget and HADP 2024-25.

The Minister was replying to a question raised by Balwant Singh Mankotia in the Legislative Assembly.

The Minister said that the Blocks of Sewna and Latti have been prioritized under the CSS scheme “National Mission on Natural Farming” during the FY 2025-26, while promotion of hill garlic, maize, medicinal aromatic plants and pulses and vegetables under project JKCIP in Chenani and Latti blocks is under due consideration for the 2025-26 fiscal.

The Minister added that area expansion by plantation of High Density Plants of Apple, Walnut, pear and Kiwi have been planned in due course of time in these areas to enhance farmers income. Besides, irrigation infrastructure such as Check Dams, Water Storage Tanks, Water Harvesting Tanks and Potable Geotags is being planned under HADP and CSS during 2025-26.

He informed that the rejuvenation of old senile orchards are being planned to be converted into high-density orchards of Elite Cultivars in due course of time.

The Minister said that about 20031 beneficiaries have been covered under different Agricultural schemes across the Chenani Constituency of Udhampur district. He said that all agriculture schemes including Centrally Sponsored Schemes, Capex and HADP projects are being implemented by the Agriculture Department across the district.

He informed that 1150 beneficiaries have been covered and benefitted under different projects of HADP in 2024-25 and 366 beneficiaries have been covered under PDMC, PKVY, SMAM, RKVY, NFSM in 2024-25 in Chenani constituency.

The Minister further informed that 18515 farmers have been covered under PMKISAN and majority of them are linked with KCC for further financial inclusivity and economic empowerment in Chenani. He said that the Horticulture department is implementing various schemes for handholding and support of farmers under UT Capex, HADP and CSSs, MIDH and PMFME schemes. He said that 57 beneficiaries have been covered under HADP and 165 under MIDH, PDMC, NMEO-TBOS and UT Capex during 2024-25.

The Minister informed the House that the Agriculture department is planning for Lavender cultivation in the foothills and wastelands of Latti Block on experimental basis and the plantation of Lavender has been undertaken in Farmer Producer Cluster (FPC) covering 08 Ha area in the panchayats of Block Latti under HADP during 2024-25 benefitting 44 farmers.

The Minister said that 05 blocks of Chenani Constituency among other blocks of Udhampur district and other districts of J&K are dependent on rainwater. However, the irrigation facility is being provided by the Command Area Development on the potential created by the Irrigation department by constructing field channels in plum concrete in the farmer’s field for conveyance of water up to the tail end. He informed that the total Irrigation potential created in these 5 blocks of Chenani Constituency is 1360.00 Ha (approx.) and Irrigation potential utilized is 714.09 Ha by Constructing Field Channels up to the farmer’s field by Command Area Development.

In order to provide irrigation facilities in these 05 blocks and other blocks of Udhampur district, the Horticulture Department has provided Deep Borewell, Dugwell, Gravity feed drip irrigation, Geo membrane tanks and Water Harvesting Tank for harvesting rainwater to various beneficiaries at subsidized rates (50% subsidy) under HADP, UT Capex, MIDH and PDMC.