SRINAGAR: A two-week supervision mission of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) for the Jammu & Kashmir Competitiveness Improvement in Agriculture and Allied Sectors Project (JKCIP) commenced in Srinagar on Thursday to review the implementation of the project across the Union Territory.
The mission, scheduled from July 2 to July 14, was inaugurated at the Mission Directorate of HADP/JKCIP in Rajbagh under the overall guidance of Mission Director Dr. Sagar D. Doifode.
The IFAD team is led by Shreekantha Shetty and includes experts in agriculture, horticulture, agribusiness, environmental safeguards, youth development and monitoring, while IFAD Country Director Marc de Sousa Shields is expected to join during the concluding phase.
Representatives of SKUAST-K, SKUAST-J, implementing departments, project management units and district officers participated in the inaugural session.
In his address, Dr. Doifode outlined the project’s implementation progress and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to a transparent and outcome-oriented review. IFAD Country Coordinator Meera Mishra highlighted the mission’s objectives and appreciated the progress achieved so far.
During the mission, the team will review progress across project components, action taken on previous recommendations, financial and procurement compliance, monitoring systems and safeguards.
From July 4 to 6, two IFAD teams will undertake field visits across 14 districts of Jammu and Kashmir, where they will interact with farmer producer organisations, horticulture and niche-crop growers, agri-startups, youth groups, pastoralists and vulnerable households supported under the project.
The mission will also hold consultations with line departments, SKUAST Jammu, SKUAST Kashmir, the UT Level Bankers Committee, Mission Youth and private sector partners before concluding with the preparation of an aide-mémoire and review meetings with senior government officials.
JKCIP, supported by IFAD, aims to improve the competitiveness of agriculture and allied sectors in Jammu and Kashmir through farmer collectivisation, promotion of horticulture and niche crops, enterprise development, market linkages, startup incubation and targeted support for pastoralists, women and vulnerable communities.
