Holistic Agriculture Development Program (HADP) launched the Jammu and Kashmir government has every potential to revolutionize agriculture and allied sectors, improving the lives of farmers with increased returns besides attracting younger generation towards these sectors thus generating employment too.
Agriculture is the main economic activity of Jammu and Kashmir as 70 percent of the population here has agriculture as predominant livelihood venture. However, given that this sector was run on traditional lines without any scientific interventions and modern technologies, the youth had started distancing from it. Even those who were solely dependent on agriculture, were fed up as the returns were very low in comparison with investment.
It was in this context that government came up with a pragmatic and synergized policy program (HADP), which has every potential to address the challenges and transform sector into prosperous sustainable agriculture economy in the region as the J&K Chief Secretary, Atal Dulloo, the other day said that the aim of HADP is to increase the production, productivity, growth, employment generation among other things which would double the contribution of the agri sector towards GDP. He further said that HADP will enhance the income of 13 lakh farmer families and provide employment opportunities to about 3 lakhs and skill development to 2.5 lakh farmers.
The Chief Secretary’s assertions are true as the programme really has a potential to revolutionise agriculture and allied sectors but question is whether the programme is followed up by the administration on the ground in letter and spirit. Cynicism not intended, the history of Jammu and Kashmir is replete with scores of examples wherein very people friendly schemes were launched but on the ground, the officials made the procedure so complicated that most of the people quit the idea of being part of such schemes. Few years back a young educated youth intended to run a sheep farm and applies for the same. He is made to run from pillar to post and after seven months, he just dropped the idea.
In this back drop, the UT administration should ensure that the programme is run with commitment and efficiency and unnecessary delays are done away with. It is heartening to note that the biggest successes of HADP is the increasing confidence of the younger generation in agriculture and allied sectors. As mentioned earlier, youth were moving away from agriculture due to its non-profitability but with the launch of this programme they have been finding a renewed interest in this sector and have greatly attained success. The administration should appreciate it and ensure that they don’t face any road blocks and bottle-necks.
