Srinagar, Sep 11 (KNO): Divisional Commissioner (Div Com) Kashmir, Anshul Garg, Thursday chaired a comprehensive review meeting to assess the implementation and progress of Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSSs) and Union Territory (UT) schemes under the Holistic Agriculture Development Programme (HADP) by the Agriculture and Sericulture departments.
The meeting was attended by the Director of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Additional Director Sericulture, Deputy Director Planning, and other senior officers from the concerned departments.
During the meeting, Div Com evaluated the effectiveness of ongoing schemes aimed at promoting agriculture and allied sectors with a focus on economic growth, increased crop productivity, employment generation, and boosting farmers’ incomes.
Emphasizing the importance of tangible outcomes, Div Com directed officers to ensure that the benefits of all schemes are effectively percolated down to the grassroots, reaching the intended beneficiaries. He stressed the need to bridge the gap between targets and actual achievements under the various schemes.
Highlighting the role of digital platforms in modern agriculture marketing, he urged departments to assess the impact of digital interventions and to integrate larger e-commerce platforms such as Amazon to facilitate better market access and higher returns for farmers.
Div Com instructed the Agriculture department to focus on the distribution of scientifically advanced, high-yielding crop varieties, which are crucial for enhancing per hectare productivity. He also called for motivating farmers to adopt highly remunerative agricultural practices, such as mushroom cultivation and sericulture, as part of an integrated farming approach.
Further, he called for a measurable increase in scheme output and visible improvements in livelihood parameters across rural areas.
Earlier, Director of Agriculture presented a detailed overview of the sector's current status, including the area under cultivation, irrigation facilities, productivity levels, and a strategic vision aimed at achieving sustainable agricultural development, ensuring food security, enhancing rural livelihoods, and promoting environmental sustainability.
It was informed that the Agriculture department is currently implementing 16 schemes under HADP in addition to various Centrally Sponsored and UT Schemes.
Representative from the Sericulture Department also shared insights into the department's historical significance, ongoing projects, and future vision for enhancing silk production and farmer engagement in the sector—(KNO)