Union Minister for Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare and Rural Development, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, on Friday described Kashmir as the 'crown jewel of India' and 'heaven on earth', saying its people are eagerly waiting to welcome fellow countrymen without fear or hesitation.
“ I have been in Srinagar since yesterday, among the people, feeling the cool breeze, the earthy fragrance of the soil, and the unmatched warmth of the locals. This land fills the heart with love. Truly, Kashmir is the crown of India and the heaven on earth,” Chouhan told reporters after attending the sixth convocation ceremony of Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST-K), Srinagar, where he was the chief guest.
Chouhan urged people across the country to visit Kashmir.
“I would like to tell my fellow countrymen that the people of this place are waiting for them with a loving heart. Let us come here without any fear, without any hesitation, and let us set a new example of brotherhood and love,” he said.
The appeal comes at a time when both the Jammu & Kashmir administration and the Union government are making concerted efforts to revive tourism in the region, following the April 22 terror attack at Baisaran meadow in Pahalgam. The attack, which claimed the lives of 25 tourists and a local resident, dealt a major blow to the tourism industry.
Earlier, speaking at the convocation, the union minister said, “You (CM) had emotionally appealed to ministers during NITI Aayog meeting to come to Jammu & Kashmir and hold advisory committee meetings. You highlighted how internal conditions are stable and only disturbed by external elements. We accepted your invitation and held the advisory committee meeting yesterday”.
He also shared how he interacted with locals across Srinagar and received overwhelming love and affection.
“Even a Shikara boatman on the Dal Lake greeted me warmly. I am deeply moved and will share this affection with the rest of the nation,” he said.
He praised SKUAST-K’s accomplishments and expressed confidence that it would soon become the top-ranking state university. He noted that the university hosts students not just from Jammu & Kashmir, but from 30 Indian states and Union Territories, as well as from abroad, making it a nationally and internationally recognised institution.
“Convocation does not mean the end of learning; it marks the beginning of new knowledge. The lessons you’ve learned in your classrooms and labs must now be shared with society,” he said.
He emphasised the irreplaceable value of agriculture, stating that “without farming, neither Jammu & Kashmir, nor the country, nor the world can function. Agricultural produce cannot be made in factories. Agriculture remains the backbone of the Indian economy and the primary livelihood for over half the population.”
Thanking Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he highlighted that under PM’s leadership, India’s foodgrain stock has reached record levels, with a 44% increase in foodgrain production over the past 11 years, including record growth in rice, wheat, maize, soybean, and groundnut.
Jammu & Kashmir’s fruits, flowers, and vegetables are exceptional in taste and color, he said, and reiterated his vision to make J&K a global horticulture hub.
He added that the Holistic Agricultural Development Program (HADP) is being implemented successfully in the region.
“Discussions were held on providing ‘Clean Plants’ under the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH). Currently, farmers often import planting material from outside the state, which may carry viruses or bacteria. To address this, a decision was made to establish a Clean Plant Center in J&K with a budget of Rs 150 crore. In 5,000 hectares of apple orchards, per-hectare yield has increased from 10 tonnes to 60 tonnes, a six-fold rise. I want to see Kashmiri apples exported globally so that India doesn’t need to import apples anymore,” he said.