Srinagar, July 14: Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo on Tuesday chaired a high-level review meeting with the visiting International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) Supervision Mission to assess the progress of the Jammu & Kashmir Competitiveness Improvement of Agriculture and Allied Sectors Project (JKCIP), a flagship programme jointly funded by IFAD, the Government of India and the Government of Jammu & Kashmir.

The IFAD delegation, led by Country Coordinator Meera Mishra, is on a two-week visit to the Union Territory from July 2 to 14 to evaluate the implementation, quality and impact of the project through extensive field inspections across Jammu and Kashmir.
The meeting was attended by Additional Chief Secretary, Agriculture Production Department (APD), Dr. Ashish Chandra Verma, Managing Director, HADP, senior officers of the Project Management Unit (JKCIP) and other stakeholders.
Reviewing the project's progress, the Chief Secretary stressed the need to translate approvals into tangible assets and sustainable livelihoods. He directed all implementing agencies to accelerate field-level execution and ensure timely delivery of benefits to eligible beneficiaries.
Expressing concern over the pace of institutional credit, Dulloo noted that although more than 2,550 loan applications have been forwarded to financial institutions, disbursement remains slow. He called for closer coordination with banks to remove procedural bottlenecks and ensure prompt release of credit to beneficiaries.
The meeting was informed that farmer registrations under the project have reached 58,307, while applications have crossed 64,750. More than 39,900 applications have been approved and 7,406 livelihood units established across the Union Territory, reflecting substantial progress since the previous review.
Officials said the Climate Smart and Market-Led Production component continues to account for the largest share of interventions, alongside significant progress in supporting vulnerable communities and strengthening the agribusiness ecosystem.
The project has expanded cultivation of high-value crops, including vegetables, Bhaderwah Rajmash, Mushkbudji rice, Basmati and saffron, while promoting protected cultivation, mushroom and honey production, seed villages, water management infrastructure and high-density horticulture orchards.
It has also facilitated the creation of grading and post-harvest infrastructure, incubation of agri-startups, entrepreneurship promotion, buyer-seller meets and participation in national trade fairs to strengthen agricultural value chains and improve market access.
Livelihood initiatives for pastoralists and vulnerable communities include sheep units, milk collection centres, improved livestock breeding, diversified enterprises and support for fisherfolk through distribution of ice boxes.
Reviewing the Annual Work Plan and Budget, the Chief Secretary called for efficient utilisation of resources, timely execution of activities and strict adherence to project timelines to maximise developmental outcomes.
The IFAD delegation appreciated the Government's efforts in strengthening transparent digital systems for project implementation and acknowledged significant improvements since the previous supervision mission. It also shared recommendations to enhance implementation quality, sustainability and community participation.
Speaking on the occasion, IFAD Country Coordinator Meera Mishra reaffirmed IFAD's commitment to supporting climate-resilient agriculture, inclusive rural livelihoods and entrepreneurship in Jammu and Kashmir. She appreciated the efforts of the Agriculture Production Department and implementing agencies in accelerating project execution.
Reiterating the Government's commitment to the successful implementation of JKCIP, the Chief Secretary directed all stakeholder departments to work closely with the IFAD Mission to effectively implement its recommendations. He said the project offers a major opportunity to transform Jammu and Kashmir's agriculture into a competitive, climate-resilient and market-oriented sector while creating sustainable livelihoods for farmers, youth, women and vulnerable communities.
The meeting concluded with discussions on the roadmap for the remaining project period, focusing on improving implementation efficiency, accelerating credit flow, strengthening inter-departmental convergence and ensuring measurable socio-economic impact across the Union Territory.