Minister for Agriculture Production, Rural Development, Panchayati Raj, Cooperative and Election Department, Javid Ahmad Dar, today addressed the Multi-Stakeholder Platform Meet–2 under the Jammu & Kashmir Comprehensive Agricultural Development Programme (JKCIP/HADP) at Kisan Kendra, Talab Tillo, Jammu.

The Minister highlighted the importance of such platforms in bringing together the farmers, FPOs, government departments, agri-entrepreneurs, financial institutions, researchers and civil society to collectively work for growth of agriculture and allied sectors. He reiterated that agriculture remains the backbone of Jammu & Kashmir’s economy and stressed the need to empower the farmers for sustainable regional development.

 He emphasized the launching of a vigorous awareness campaign on agriculture and allied sector schemes to ensure maximum outreach and benefits to the farming community. He underlined the need to promote market-driven production, strengthen market linkages, reduce dependency on middlemen, encourage public-private partnerships and foster inclusive decision-making involving small and marginal farmers, women and youth.

The Minister also called for replication of successful innovations and technologies in agriculture and horticulture, stating that the goal is to transform the traditional farming into a modern, income-oriented and market-driven system.

Later, the Minister visited the Rural Development Department Jammu, interacted with the officials and reviewed the progress of ongoing developmental works in Jammu division.

The event was attended by the Mission Director JKCIP/HADP, Directors of Agriculture,

Horticulture and Animal Husbandry, MD JK AGRO, experts from SKUAST-J and Universities, representatives of financial institutions including J&K Bank and PNB, members of the Kissan Advisory Board, farmers, FPOs and budding entrepreneurs.