Srinagar, September 11: Divisional Commissioner (Div Com) Kashmir, Anshul Garg, today chaired a comprehensive review meeting to assess the progress of Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSSs) and Union Territory (UT) schemes under the Holistic Agriculture Development Programme (HADP) being implemented 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 concerned departments.
During the meeting, the Div Com evaluated the effectiveness of ongoing schemes aimed at strengthening agriculture and allied sectors with a focus on economic growth, enhanced productivity, employment generation, and boosting farmers’ incomes. He directed officers to ensure that scheme benefits reach the grassroots and stressed bridging the gap between targets and actual achievements.
Highlighting the role of digital platforms in agriculture marketing, Garg urged departments to explore integration with large e-commerce platforms like Amazon to provide farmers with better market access and improved returns.
The Div Com instructed the Agriculture Department to prioritize the distribution of high-yielding and scientifically advanced crop varieties to increase per hectare productivity. He further encouraged promotion of remunerative practices such as mushroom cultivation and sericulture as part of integrated farming models.
He emphasized the need for measurable increases in scheme outputs and visible improvements in livelihood indicators across rural areas.
Earlier, the Director of Agriculture presented an overview of the sector, covering cultivated area, irrigation facilities, productivity status, and a strategic roadmap for sustainable agricultural development, food security, rural livelihood enhancement, and environmental sustainability. It was informed that the Agriculture Department is presently implementing 16 schemes under HADP along with several other CSSs and UT schemes.
A representative from the Sericulture Department also shared insights on the sector’s historical importance, ongoing projects, and future plans to boost silk production and farmer participation.
