* Visits SPS Museum
Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Dec 21: Chief Secretary, Atal Dulloo today inaugurated a Divisional Level Mega Kisan Mela organized by the Agriculture & Farm Welfare Department under Holistic Agriculture Development Programme (HADP) here at Agriculture Complex Lal Mandi.
Vice Chancellor SKUAST, Prof Nazir Ahmad Ganai, Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Vijay Kumar Bidhuri, Deputy Commissioner Srinagar, Mohammad Aijaz Asad, Director Agriculture Kashmir, Chowdhary Mohammad Iqbal, other senior Officers and large number of progressive farmers and Agri Entrepreneurs were present in the mega event.
Speaking on the occasion, Chief Secretary highlighted the significance of HADP for the overall development of Agriculture and allied sectors in J&K. He said that the 29 projects being implemented under HADP will prove a game changer for Agriculture economic growth and ecosystem.
Chief Secretary said that the HADP initiative is a major step towards creating a sustainable and profitable Agricultural ecosystem. He said the programme aims to empower farmers with knowledge and tools that can help them enhance their productivity and profitability while also contributing to the overall growth of the Agriculture sector.
Atal Dulloo further said that the programme also provides a platform to the farmers to interact with experts from the Agricultural and allied Departments and seek their advice on various aspects of farming, besides enhancing agricultural productivity, improve livelihoods, and contribute to the overall economic growth.
Chief Secretary called for better coordination among farmers, Agriculture Department and SKUAST in order to identify the requirements of the farmers so that innovative measures are taken to ensure sustainable agriculture ecosystem besides improving socio-economic conditions of the farmers.
Atal Dulloo urged the farmers, particularly the educated youth to come forward and take maximum benefits from the schemes under HADP to enhance the production and increase income under the Agriculture sector.
VC SKUAST, Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Director Agriculture Kashmir also spoke on the occasion and expressed their views regarding initiatives of the Government for development of the Agriculture sector.
During the Kisan Mela, Atal Dulloo handed over sanction letters to the farmers of all 10 Districts of Kashmir valley under HADP and other centrally sponsored schemes.
On the occasion, Chief Secretary also e-inaugurated various projects under HADP worth Rs 3.47 cr including Hi-Tech Polyhouse Aripath (Vegetable Garden) established under HADP at Aripath Anantnag, Medicinal & Aromatic Germplasm Centre Project MAP established under HADP at Sirhama Anantnag, Medicinal & Aromatic Germplasm Centre Project MAP established under HADP at Sultan Dhaki Uri and Trikanjan Boniyar Baramulla.
He also e-inaugurated Deep Bore wells established under RAD HADP in District Anantnag, and Semi Hi-Tech Polyhouse established under HADP in District Pulwama.
Chief Secretary also handed over keys of a Tractors to the farmers under Centrally Sponsored Scheme, Sub Mission Agriculture Mechanization (SMAM). He also released a Training Manual on Scientific Beekeeping on the occasion.
Meanwhile, CS made a visit to Shri Pratap Singh (SPS) Museum Lalmandi here.
He visited various galleries of the museum and was briefed by the Deputy Director, Archives, Archaeology & Museums, Kashmir about the precious collection displayed/housed in the galleries there.
Dulloo went to all the floors and took note of the progress of work completed till date.
He directed Secretary, Tourism & Culture to constitute a committee headed by Developmental Commissioner Works comprising of all stake holders to examine the issues in a holistic manner and suggest a way forward. The Committee shall submit its findings within 10 days which will be a guiding factor for completion of the project at an earliest and will result in making the SPS Museum fully functional for the general public.