BARAMULLA: Minister for Agriculture Production Department, Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, Cooperative and Election Departments, Javid Ahmad Dar, today visited Fruit Mandi Kanispora in Baramulla, where he interacted with members of the Fruit Growers Association, progressive orchardists and farmers to understand their issues and seek suggestions.
He was accompanied by MLA Baramulla Javaid Ahmad Beigh, MLA Sopore Irshad Rasool Kar, MLA Wagoora Irfan Hafeez Lone, Director Agriculture Kashmir, Director Horticulture Kashmir, Director Command Area Development, Director Horticulture (Planning & Marketing) and other senior officers.
Reaffirming the government’s commitment to farmers’ welfare, the Minister assured that all concerns raised by the fruit growers would be addressed in a time-bound manner. He stated that the Agriculture Production Department is actively working to rationalise the rules and ensure strict enforcement of agricultural regulations. He added that strict penalties would be imposed on the violators to ensure accountability.
The Minister also announced that a state-of-the-art testing laboratory is being established in Baramulla, which will serve as a key facility for testing and research in the interest of the farming community. He further informed that cold storage infrastructure is being developed to reduce the post-harvest losses and improve the shelf life and marketability of horticultural produce.
Highlighting the government’s broader support mechanisms, he said that the Weather-based Crop Insurance Scheme for fruit growers is also expected to be launched soon. This initiative aims to protect growers against natural disasters and crop failures, thereby ensuring sustainable income and resilience for the agricultural sector, he added.
Later, the Minister visited various areas of Baramulla district, including Tujar Sharif, Harwan, Zaingeer, Zaloora and the rainfed areas of Bomai to assess the status of irrigation facilities.
During the field tour, he instructed the concerned departments to identify feasible locations and prepare DPRs for borewells to augment irrigation facilities in the areas.
Pertinently, the Agriculture department has rolled out a new NABARD-funded scheme for setting up community borewells in rainfed areas to improve irrigation facilities. Similarly, 6200 borewells in rain-fed areas are being targeted under HADP for overall improvement of irrigation in rain-fed areas across J&K.
He emphasized the need for focused interventions in rain-fed and water-stressed areas and called for better coordination between allied departments to address gaps in irrigation and water management.
The Minister reiterated that the government is fully committed towards enhancing the irrigation infrastructure, increasing farm productivity and improving rural livelihoods across Jammu and Kashmir.
