SRINAGAR, September 16, 2025 – In a significant initiative to empower local farmers with modern agricultural practices, Director Agriculture Kashmir, Sartaj Ahmad Shah, today flagged off a group of 45 progressive #farmers from various zones of Srinagar district for an #exposure visit to the Faculty of Agriculture Wadura Sopore campus of Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST-K).The event, organised under the Holistic Agriculture Development Programme (HADP) Project-11 focusing on the promotion of oil seeds, underscores the Jammu and Kashmir government’s commitment to enhancing crop cultivation techniques and boosting farmer livelihoods. The #DirAgri-led ceremony took place at the Directorate of Agriculture Kashmir office, where Shah emphasized the importance of such programs in bridging the gap between traditional farming and scientific methodologies.Speaking to the gathering, Director Shah urged the participating #farmers to actively engage with agriculture scientists, experts, and extension functionaries during the visit.
“This #exposure visit is an opportunity to acquaint yourselves with up-to-date methodologies in crop cultivation on scientific lines,” he said. “Enhance your technical skills in crop farming and adopt advanced technologies to increase productivity and sustainability.”The group, comprising progressive #farmers selected based on their innovative approaches to agriculture, will tour the Wadura campus to observe demonstrations on oil seed production, soil management, and integrated pest control. Officials from the Agriculture Production and Farmers Welfare Department, Srinagar, highlighted that the initiative aligns with broader goals under HADP to promote high-value crops and reduce dependency on imports.
This move comes amid ongoing efforts in Jammu and Kashmir to modernize agriculture, following similar #flags-off events earlier in the year, including a January training program in Punjab and a July cluster-based visit in Budgam. Such programs have reportedly led to improved yields and adoption of best practices among participants.Farmers present at the flagging-off ceremony expressed enthusiasm, noting that these opportunities provide practical insights into emerging trends like precision farming and climate-resilient varieties. “We look forward to bringing back actionable knowledge to our fields,” said one participant from the Harwan zone.The Directorate of Agriculture Kashmir continues to prioritize farmer-centric initiatives, with plans for more exposure visits in the coming months to further strengthen the agricultural ecosystem in the region.
