New Delhi, Apr 8: NITI Aayog on Tuesday released a comprehensive roadmap for the development of the horticulture sector in Jammu & Kashmir, proposing a phased strategy to improve productivity, strengthen infrastructure, boost value addition and enhance market competitiveness.
The report, titled Roadmap for Horticulture Development in the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir, was released during a workshop held at NITI Aayog in New Delhi.
The report was unveiled in the presence of NITI Aayog Vice Chairman Suman Bery, Member (Agriculture) Ramesh Chand, CEO Nidhi Chhibber and Programme Director Neelam Patel.
The workshop, held in hybrid mode, brought together policymakers, scientists, officials, farmer groups and private stakeholders to deliberate on ways to transform the horticulture sector in the Union Territory.
Discussions focused on production systems, infrastructure gaps, sustainability, value addition, market linkages and regulatory reforms.
A key feature of the roadmap is the proposed mission framework, Operation Golden Greens, aimed at integrated development of horticulture across fruits, dry fruits, vegetables, floriculture and minor crops.
The proposed mission seeks to drive sectoral growth through a coordinated and technology-driven approach.
According to the report, the roadmap outlines short-term, medium-term and long-term interventions to build a competitive, resilient and inclusive horticulture ecosystem in J&K.
The strategy places emphasis on improving farm productivity, strengthening post-harvest management and cold-chain infrastructure, promoting food processing and expanding access to domestic and export markets.
Two technical sessions were held during the workshop.
The first session focused on structural transformation of the horticulture sector in J&K, covering production systems, sustainability and infrastructure development.
The second session centred on diversification, value addition and export competitiveness, with participation from Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs), cooperatives, self-help groups (SHGs), progressive farmers and horticulture startups.
Senior officials who addressed the sessions included Director Horticulture Kashmir Vikas Anand, Director Horticulture Jammu Gul Sayed, Horticulture Commissioner in the Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Prabhat Kumar, and ICAR Deputy Director General (Horticultural Science) Sanjay Kumar Singh.
Representatives from the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST), ICAR-Central Institute of Temperate Horticulture (CITH), J&K’s Agriculture Production Department, horticulture departments, FPOs, cooperatives, SHGs and private sector players also participated.
NITI Aayog said the initiative reflects its commitment to cooperative federalism and aims to help J&K leverage its natural strengths to raise farmer incomes, generate jobs and contribute to the national goal of Viksit Bharat 2047.
