LA passes grants of Agri, RDD, Coop, Election Deptts
* Directorate of Agri Engg, Animal Welfare Board being created
Gopal Sharma
JAMMU, Mar 24: Minister for Agriculture Production Department, Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, Elections and Cooperatives Department, Javed Ahmed Dar today said that a separate Directorate of Agriculture Engineering and an Enforcement Wing, are being created besides constitution of an Animal Welfare Board in Jammu and Kashmir.
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While a whopping liabilities worth over Rs 386 crores of MGNREGA bills, have been piled up during PDP-BJP regime, no efforts were made by the previous Administrations to clear this liability during past 8-9 years. He claimed that Omar Government will try to clear the pending liability by seeking funds from the Union Government . Most of the labour component has been cleared. Now, this liability pertains to material component and other contract works, he added.
Dar was replying to the discussion on the demand for grants of the departments under him in the Legislative Assembly today. He disclosed that keeping in view the significance of the use of new technology, artificial intelligence and adoption of drone system for the Agriculture practices, the Government has decided to create a Separate Directorate of Agriculture Engineering and Enforcement Wing, for keeping check on the quality of fertilizers, seeds, pesticides, insecticides etc under Agriculture Production Department. This move will create jobs for our Agriculture Engineers and also improve the agriculture production in the Jammu and Kashmir.
The Minister further disclosed that Government has also been working seriously on the welfare of the animals. The Government by taking a new initiative, is going to constitute an Animal Welfare Board in the Jammu and Kashmir.
Dar further disclosed that for raising Agriculture/ Horticulture infrastructure, Rs 377 crore is being spend under NABARD schemes. Earlier, most of the funds under National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) were being utilised for the construction of roads in the J&K.
Meanwhile, the J&K Legislative Assembly passed the demands of grants for various departments. The approved grants included Rs 258369.98 lakh for Agriculture Production Department, Rs 122899.58 lakh for Animal & Sheep Husbandry, Rs 22524.86 lakhs for Fisheries, Rs 475485.95 lakhs for Rural Development Department, Rs 70429.33 lakh for Horticulture, Rs 35960.43 lakh for Election Department, and Rs 9642.4 lakh for the Cooperatives Department.
Winding up the discussion on demands for grants, Javed Dar said that agriculture and allied sectors are the backbone of Jammu & Kashmir’s economy, contributing a staggering Rs 37,559 crore, which accounts for 18 percent of the State’s Gross Domestic Product (SGDP). The Horticulture sector takes the lead, accounting for a whopping 41 percent of this contribution, reaffirming J&K’s dominance in high value fruit production. He said that the Livestock sector plays a crucial role, contributing 33 percent to the economy, while core agriculture activities make up 25 percent, demonstrating the region’s diverse and resilient agrarian economy.
He said the Government is complementing its ongoing investments in infrastructure with a stronger emphasis on beneficiary-oriented schemes, ensuring that the farmers directly benefit from targeted interventions. One such initiative is the High-Density Plantation (HD) Scheme, which has already brought 836 hectare under high-density orchards, including 174 hectare covered in the current financial year. With Rs 30 crore budget allocation during 2024-25, this initiative is driving higher productivity, increased farmer income and long-term sustainability in the horticulture sector, he added.
The Minister said that the Government is also driving transformational growth in the livestock sector through targeted interventions that enhance productivity, employment and income generation for farmers. He said 3,220 dairy units were established in 2024-25 under Integrated Dairy Development Scheme, generating employment for nearly 5,000 people. Similarly, 2,170 units were set up in 2024-25 under the Integrated Sheep Development Scheme.
He said that currently there are 37 Mandis with 24 fully operational and the remaining 13 in various stages of development. Out of the 19 wholesale Mandis, 17 have already been integrated with the e-NAM platform.
The Minister said that rail network in Kashmir will be a game-changer for the apple growers, significantly reducing freight costs and ensuring better profitability. He said in J&K, there are 10.82 lakh active KCC accounts, 8.49 lakh for crops and 2.33 lakh for animal husbandry. This year alone, 61,316 new KCCs were issued. The total sanctioned limit stands at Rs 9,726 crore with an outstanding credit of Rs 7,393 crore.
He said that seven unique agricultural products from J&K have been granted the prestigious Geographical Indication (GI) Tag by the Government of India, reinforcing their authenticity, heritage and market value. These included Saffron, Basmati, Baderwah Rajmash, Mushkbudji Rice, Udhampur Kaladi, Ramban Sulai Honey and Ramban Anardana. In continuation, GI tagging for 17 more crops shall be processed during 2025-26.
Javid Dar said that Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST) Jammu, Kashmir has made remarkable strides in agricultural research and innovation, securing an impressive 104 patents, creating 162 startups and releasing 174 new crop varieties.
He said that the Government is relentlessly working to transform agricultural sector with a vision to increase its contribution to the State Gross Geographical Product (SGGP) from Rs 37,559 crore to Rs 1 lakh crore in the next five years with creation of 18000 enterprises, 2.8 lakh employments and 2.5 lakh skilled farmers.
“Four new Agri-Mandis will be established in Samba, Reasi, Kishtwar and Bandipora, supported by a dedicated Market Intelligence Cell and Agri Branding Centers for global positioning of J&K produce. Further, projects for upgrading infrastructure at 5 mega mandis– Sopore, Shopian, Narwal, Jablipora and Parimpora would be initiated,” the Minister added.
He said that a capital allocation of Rs 377 crore has been earmarked during 2025-26 for infrastructure development through NABARD in agriculture and allied sectors, ushering in a new era of rural modernization. Under PMAY more than 3.36 lakh beneficiaries have been included in the survey across all 20 districts for 2025-26.
Dar said that there are over 23.59 lakh registered workers, with 15.52 lakh actively engaged in meaningful work under MGNREGA in J&K. For 2025-26, 3,13, 567 works have been identified which included proposed 80,000 new PMAY (G) works as proposed target with an outlay of Rs. 187.38 crore, he added.
He said that during the current financial year, 14 Mini Super Bazars are being constructed and around 12 Mini Super Bazars shall be constructed throughout UT of J&K during the next financial year. Dar said that a Pilot project has been identified at Rajbagh, Kathua with a capacity of 1000MT and the DPR of the same has been formulated by the NCDC with an estimated cost of Rs. 197. 88 lakh. Establishment of Grain Storages through PACS can boost the business activities of the Cooperative Societies and can generate employment avenues for educated unemployed youth, he added.
The cut motions on demands for grants were withdrawn by the MLAs. Later, the House passed the demand for grants moved by Javed Dar by voice-vote.
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