Srinagar: Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo on Tuesday directed implementing agencies to accelerate the establishment of beneficiary units under the Jammu and Kashmir Competitiveness Improvement of Agriculture and Allied Sectors Project (JKCIP) and ensure timely achievement of project targets across the Union Territory.
Chairing a review meeting of the Agriculture Production Department, the Chief Secretary said the project aims to enhance farmers’ incomes through climate-smart agriculture, promotion of niche crops, value addition, entrepreneurship and market integration. He stressed the need to shift focus from approvals to tangible outcomes on the ground.
Dulloo directed the department to improve the participation of women and youth by leveraging Self-Help Groups under the Rural Development Department and the Mission YUVA database to identify and support eligible beneficiaries.
He also asked Deputy Commissioners to institute a roster-based mechanism for regular field inspections to verify the functioning of beneficiary units, assess implementation quality and identify bottlenecks affecting project execution.
Additional Chief Secretary, Agriculture Production Department, Ashish Chandra Verma said farmer participation under the programme had increased significantly since the last review but called for greater awareness and outreach to ensure wider coverage of eligible farmers and agri-entrepreneurs.
Mission Director, JKCIP, Dr Sagar Doifode Dattatray informed the meeting that the number of registered farmers had increased to 60,283, marking a nearly 189 per cent rise. He said the project had received 67,579 applications, of which 43,168 had been approved, while 7,501 beneficiary units had been established across Jammu and Kashmir.
The meeting reviewed progress made by the Agriculture, Horticulture, Fisheries, Sheep Husbandry, Animal Husbandry and Horticulture Planning and Marketing departments, as well as Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST) campuses in Jammu and Kashmir.
Officials informed the meeting that interventions under the project include vegetable cultivation, saffron, aromatic rice, protected cultivation, medicinal and aromatic plants, mushroom cultivation, honey production, orchard rejuvenation, nursery development, water management and livelihood initiatives in fisheries and livestock sectors.
The Chief Secretary also reviewed the Annual Work Plan and Budget for 2026-27 and directed implementing agencies to ensure timely execution of approved activities, optimal utilisation of funds and closer monitoring of physical and financial progress. He also called for transparent beneficiary selection, strengthened field verification and regular district-wise reviews to address implementation gaps.
