Srinagar: The Apex Level Committee on Holistic Agriculture Development Programme (HADP), chaired by Dr. Mangla Rai, visited Ganderbal district today to review innovative agricultural ventures and model projects under implementation in Jammu & Kashmir.
Accompanied by committee members Dr. P.K. Joshi, Dr. Prabhat Kumar, Prof. J.P. Sharma, Mohammad Sartaj, Director Agriculture Kashmir and Abdul Hameed Shah, head of the Seed Division Agriculture Production Department, the team visited the floriculture unit of agripreneur Feroz Ahmad, who is engaged in the cultivation and commercialization of floriculture plants. The committee interacted with Ahmad and assessed the potential of floriculture as a viable agri-business avenue for local youth.
Later, the delegation toured the Model Medicinal and Aromatic Plant Park at Nuner, Ganderbal. The park showcases large-scale cultivation of high-value medicinal and aromatic species, which are being promoted as part of HADP’s vision to diversify agriculture, enhance farmers’ incomes, and open new opportunities for entrepreneurship in Jammu & Kashmir.
Officials from the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare, Government of India, and representatives from the Office of the Lieutenant Governor, J&K, and the Horticulture Department briefed the committee on the progress of ongoing initiatives.
The Apex Committee emphasised the importance of promoting innovative agripreneurship models in floriculture, medicinal, and aromatic plants, while ensuring market linkages and value addition. It reiterated the Union Government’s commitment to transforming J&K’s agriculture sector through HADP by focusing on high-value crops, technology adoption, and farmer-oriented support systems.
The visit is part of a series of field reviews being conducted by the HADP Apex Committee across the Union Territory to identify successful models, address bottlenecks, and guide future interventions in line with the vision of sustainable agricultural growth in Jammu & Kashmir.
Comments are closed.