Says initiative will ensure progress, prosperity of farmers in J&K
SRINAGAR- Additional Chief Secretary (ACS), Agriculture Production Department (APD), Atal Dulloo, Friday flagged off ‘Aalav’ awareness Van from Lal Chowk.
The program aims to raise awareness about the Holistic Agriculture Development Plan (HADP) in the region.
Atal Dulloo, who also serves as Vice Chairman of J&K Advisory Board for Development of Kisans, flagged off the awareness vehicle marking commencement of the ambitious ‘Aalav’ programme.
Heads of Departments of Agriculture and allied sectors as well as board members were present during the flag-off ceremony. The event was also attended by progressive farmers from the Valley.
In his address, Dulloo emphasized the three essential dimensions of Holistic Agriculture Development Plan including ‘economic development, social inclusion and environmental protection’. He highlighted that the Aalav programme would prioritize these dimensions to ensure the progress and prosperity of farmers in the region.
He said that Aalav programme marks a significant step towards holistic development of agriculture in the region, fostering sustainable practices and empowering farmers with the necessary knowledge and resources to thrive in their endeavors. He added that it is a testament to the government’s dedication towards welfare and progress of farmers, as they continue to play a vital role in growth of the agricultural sector.
The Aalav Programme, a key component of HADP, aims to create a comprehensive support system for farmers.
It was informed that it focuses on providing them with access to training, resources and information necessary for sustainable and profitable agriculture. Through this initiative, the Agriculture Production Department and the J&K Advisory Board for Development of Kisans aim to empower farmers and enable them to adapt to new challenges and explore new possibilities in agriculture.
The inaugural ceremony of the Aalav programme was followed by successful completion of UT level training and orientation program for officers, which focused on effective implementation of 29 projects under the HADP.
This training program equipped officers with the knowledge and skills required to support farmers and maximize the benefits of the policies and schemes under HADP.
To ensure success of this ambitious program, 400 resource persons have been trained across all districts. These trained individuals will serve as a bridge between the government and the farming community, providing guidance and assistance to farmers in implementing various schemes and accessing the available resources. Additionally, 45 educational videos in multiple languages have been developed and are being screened in Panchayats to educate farmers about the schemes under HADP.
Secretary, J&K Advisory Board for Development of Kisans, Abdul Hamid Wani, also spoke at the event, highlighting the board’s commitment towards ensuring effective implementation of the government’s meticulous plan.
Chairs Meeting Regarding Strengthening Of Project Monitoring Unit Of HADP
Additional Chief Secretary (ACS), Agriculture Production Department, Atal Dulloo, Friday chaired a meeting regarding strengthening of Project Monitoring Unit (PML) and other developments under Holistic Agriculture Development Programme (HADP) at Civil Secretariat here.
The meeting was attended by Director General Planning, Agriculture Production Department, Special Secretary, Agriculture Production Department, Mission Director, HADP, Nidhi Srinivas from Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Ankur Bansal, CEO/Founder GDI (BMGF), member PMU and Technical Officers.
During the meeting, a detailed PowerPoint Presentation on various aspects of HADP highlighting challenges confronted in implementation of the mega project.
ACS impressed upon the officers to implement HADP in its entirety keeping its aims and objectives in mind. He emphasized the need of laying special focus on various aspects like procurement, IT, value chain development and marketing forthe effective implementation of HADP.
Dulloo said that the ambitious plan will bring about significant improvement in agriculture and allied sectors in Jammu and Kashmir, providing a boost to the region’s economy and benefitting farmers and consumers alike. He added that the interventions under the plan will enhance quality and quantity of produce in the region. ” Various multi-pronged strategies ranging from infrastructure development to specific technological interventions are being ensured for reaping the benefits”, he added.
It was informed that expert teams from other parts of the country will be visiting the UT to share their models and expertise in the sector. Their best practices will be adopted and replicated here in J&K to get optimum outcome.
Regardingthe ‘Kisan Sampark Abhiyan’, Atal Dulloo said that the people have evinced great enthusiasm and their overwhelming participation has given new dimensions to this ambitious programme of the government.
It was also informed in the meeting that with implementation of HADP, JK will have secured livelihood for 13 lakh farm families with emphasis on 2,62,006 marginal families, creation of 18,861 additional enterprises and additional 2,87,910 jobs besides skill development to over 2.5 lakh persons in agri-skills.
In another separate meeting, Atal Dulloo reviewed various innovative interventions being launched towards revitalizing agriculture in J&K under HADP.
In this regard, it was informed that panchayat level common service centers (Kissan Khidmat Ghar) will pave way for holistic area specific agricultural plan implementation. Besides, the block level agri-extension advisory committee will provide the services at farmers’ doorsteps. Also, the Kissan Khidmat Ghar will serve as convergence hub at district level for end-to-end solutions.