Govt making farmers entrepreneurs par excellence: LG Sinha

Anantnag, June 12:   Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha Wednesday said that the government was making farmers entrepreneurs par excellence.

Attending the paddy transplantation festival at Bijbehara in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district, the LG highlighted the efforts of the J&K administration, under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to empower the farming community and to rejuvenate the agriculture and allied sector.

“Paddy cultivation is the backbone of J&K's economy and our farmers with their unwavering commitment are playing a vital role in ensuring food security and maintaining the agrarian tradition,” he said.

LG Sinha thanked PM Modi for dedicating the Holistic Agriculture Development Programme (HADP) worth Rs 5013 crore.

He said that the HADP and its 29 projects were being implemented to create a strong and commercially viable agriculture and allied sector.

The LG said that the policies and projects of the government under HADP were based on the principles of economy, equity, and ecology to put J&K on a new trajectory of growth, almost doubling the output of the sectors, boosting exports and making agriculture and allied sectors sustainable.

He also shared various key interventions and necessary steps being taken by the J&K government to make the farmers of J&K entrepreneurs-par-excellence.

“In Kashmir division, an area of 1,27,167 hectares will be brought under paddy cultivation this year and total 2,94,821 hectares of net area under cultivation during Kharif Season,” LG Sinha said.

He directed the officials to ensure a timely supply of critical inputs, promote innovative technologies, and tap the potential of diversification and intercropping to improve farm productivity.

The LG said that the administration was going to launch the Kisan Sampark Abhiyan 3.0 soon.

He also highlighted the important role of educated youth, experts, officials, and farmers of J&K in agriculture and allied sectors.

He commended the district administration Anantnag for providing a huge chunk of land to the Industries Department and facilitating the establishment of CA stores in the district.

Addressing the issues about the development of Jablipora Fruit Mandi, LG Sinha said that the project in this regard had been approved.

On the occasion, he e-inaugurated various components worth Rs 3.13 crore established under HADP.

The LG visited the stalls put up by various departments and farmers and distributed sanction letters to beneficiaries under different schemes.

Progressive farmers also shared their success stories and thanked the administration for support and assistance.

Chairman DDC Anantnag, Muhammad Yousuf Gorsi; Principal Secretary, Agriculture Production Department, Shailendra Kumar; IGP Kashmir, Vidhi Kumar Birdi and Deputy Commissioner Anantnag, Syed Fakhrudin Hamid were also present on the occasion.