Stresses promotion of Nutri-Cereals, Agri-processing ventures
JAMMU: Mission Director HADP/JKCIP Sandeep Kumar today chaired a meeting to take a comprehensive review of the progress of the programme in the Union Territory. The meeting was held here in the Conference Hall, Directorate of Agriculture- Krishi Bhawan.
The Mission Director reviewed the physical and financial achievements under different HADP projects being implemented in both public and private sectors.
The meeting was attended by Director Agriculture Jammu Anil Gupta; Director Horticulture Jammu Gul Sayed; Director Horticulture Kashmir Vikas Anand and Deputy Director Agriculture (Planning) Jammu Priyanka Parihar, along with Technical Officers HADP (Agriculture and Horticulture) Jammu, technical staff of Mission Directorate HADP, representatives and Principal Investigators from SKUAST-Jammu.
Director Agriculture Kashmir, Sartaj Ahmad Shah; Chief Agriculture Officers and Chief Horticulture Officers of all districts of Jammu and Kashmir; Technical Officers HADP Kashmir; representatives and Principal Investigators from SKUAST-Kashmir and other officers from Kashmir attended the meeting through video conferencing (VC).
During the deliberations, Sandeep Kumar emphasized the need to achieve 100 percent expenditure targets by the end of the current month to ensure timely implementation of project activities. While reviewing the progress under the Promotion of Nutri-Cereals (Millets) component, he directed to establish millet mills in those areas where millet cultivation is expanding and the beneficiaries have an actual need.
He also took a detailed review of the Kisan Sathi Portal activities and instructed to clear all pending approvals immediately. He further directed to remove inactive applications systematically and register those genuinely in need of support. The Mission Director also stressed the importance of regular photo documentation with GPS coordinates to be shared with the Mission Directorate for real-time monitoring.
Highlighting the importance of GI tagging of indigenous millet varieties, he urged SKUAST to expedite the process. SKUAST-Jammu informed that work is already underway on seven such millet varieties. The Mission Director also emphasized the development and sharing of Packages of Practices (PoP) and technology transfer by SKUAST Jammu and SKUAST Kashmir with their respective Directorates for wider farmer adoption.
Sandeep Kumar further underscored the need to establish canning units under HADP to enhance the shelf life of agriculture and horticulture produce, thereby increasing farmers’ income. He also highlighted the significance of exposure visits of farmers at the national level, enabling them to learn about new technologies and innovative practices. He directed that consolidated reports of such exposure visits be submitted to the Mission Directorate in a timely manner.
The Mission Director laid special emphasis on strengthening Research and Development (R&D) efforts to ensure the availability of improved seed varieties, which would enhance yield and productivity across the UT.