: The Department of Agriculture Production & Farmers Welfare Jammu has started preparations for Jhiri Mela 2025- an annual event held to commemorate the sacrifice of the 16th-century farmer saint, Baba Jitto who laid down his life fighting against injustice and feudalism.

In this regard, Director Agriculture Jammu Anil Gupta today chaired a meeting to review the preparedness of the department for the upcoming fair.

The Director said that the Agriculture Department’s participation in the mela should be centered on farmers’ welfare and awareness, in keeping with the spirit of the event, which commemorates the sacrifice of Baba Jitto, a symbol of farmers’ rights and dignity.

The Director Agriculture instructed all sectoral heads to ensure that departmental stalls are set up with the high standards of presentation, cleanliness and innovation. He stressed that the department, which has consistently secured top honours in previous exhibitions, should strive to achieve the top ranking this year as well.

It was informed that the departmental exhibition will feature display of modern agricultural techniques, machinery, tools and equipment from both the Government Agriculture Workshop and private firms, besides live demonstrations of mushroom cultivation, soil sampling, Kisan Khidmat Ghar (KKG) operations and apiculture listing diverse honey varieties. The stalls will also highlight flagship schemes such as HADP, Centrally Sponsored Schemes and state-run programs, supported by high-quality literature in farmer-friendly language.

Displays of improved seed varieties, cereals, vegetables, niche crops, medicinal and aromatic plants (MAP) from the Jammu region will form another major attraction.

In addition, LED screens would be installed to disseminate information about flagship programs, innovations and success stories aimed at promoting advanced practices in agriculture and allied activities.

Director Anil Gupta constituted several committees to manage the department’s activities during the mela, including Registration, Stall Setup, Reception, Refreshment, Stage Management, Transport, Media and Reserve Committees. These will function under the overall supervision of Joint Director Agriculture (Extension) Jammu, Sanjay Anand, who will coordinate all departmental arrangements. The Chief Agriculture Officer (CAO) Jammu will lead the organizing Committee along with his district team and will closely coordinate with Joint Director (Extension) for smooth execution of departmental activities.

Joint Director Sanjay Anand stressed that the overall display and presentation of the departmental exhibits should reflect innovation and uniformity with standardized display banners and identification plates. Joint Director Agriculture (SLUB/Farms) Aman Jyoti Sharma emphasized the importance of a well-planned layout and a smooth registration process to ensure an impactful presentation.

The Jhiri Mela 2025, scheduled from November 4 to 13, 2025, with Kartik Purnima on November 5 as the main day is expected to witness participation from a large number of farmers from Jammu & Kashmir and other states. The Agriculture Department’s participation will serve as a vital platform to enhance farmers’ knowledge, exposure and engagement with new technologies and government schemes, while paying tribute to Baba Jitto’s enduring legacy.