Horticulture sector key to JKCIP’s success, says top officer

Srinagar: Chief Secretary of Jammu and Kashmir Atal Dulloo convened a meeting with the Agriculture Production Department (APD) to take stock on the progress of the Competitiveness Improvement of Agriculture & Allied Sectors Project in J&K (JKCIP). He assessed the situation regarding the implementation of the project and urged for updates on different parts of the project. The goal of the meeting was to spread the project in different areas of J&K.

Dulloo encouraged the horticulture sector to take all necessary steps for the success of the project. He emphasized the need to build the capacity of staff and hire capable people whose expertise will be crucial to the project’s success. He suggested involving farmers and private players in forming Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) to promote unique crops with the help of financial institutions for credit and support.

Also Read: Pollution affects pregnant women and newborns more than others

The Principal Secretary of APD, Shailendra Kumar, stated that the Project Monitoring Unit (PMU) for JKCIP will be established by the end of this month. He talked about the project’s progress, challenges faced, and how they were resolved. He explained that the project runs on a reimbursement system and will start showing results as soon as funds are released.

Kumar also highlighted the role of Agricultural Universities and field staff in raising awareness, implementing the project, and providing training and capacity building. The project focuses on growing unique agricultural crops and promoting horticulture through climate-smart and market-led production methods.

The meeting was attended by various department heads, including the Mission Director of HADP/JKCIP, Directors of Agriculture and Horticulture from Kashmir and Jammu, and other officers.