JKCIP reaches 60,283 farmers as Chief Secretary pushes for timely execution

Ziraat Times News Desk

Srinagar, July 28: Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo on Tuesday directed all implementing agencies to accelerate the establishment of beneficiary units under the Jammu & Kashmir Competitiveness Improvement of Agriculture and Allied Sectors Project (JKCIP) and ensure timely achievement of project targets across the Union Territory.

Chairing a high-level review meeting on the implementation of JKCIP, Dulloo said the project is a transformational initiative aimed at increasing farmers’ incomes through climate-smart agriculture, promotion of niche crops, value addition, entrepreneurship development, market integration and sustainable livelihood generation.

Emphasising the importance of agriculture to Jammu & Kashmir’s economy, the Chief Secretary said the project has created a strong institutional framework for modernising agriculture and allied sectors, but stressed that implementing agencies must now focus on delivering tangible outcomes on the ground.

He directed the Agriculture Production Department to enhance the participation of women and youth by leveraging the database of Self-Help Groups (SHGs) under the Rural Development Department and Mission YUVA to identify and engage aspiring entrepreneurs across the Union Territory.

Dulloo also asked Deputy Commissioners to establish a roster-based mechanism for regular field inspections to assess the quality of implementation, verify the functionality of beneficiary units and obtain direct feedback from beneficiaries. He said field visits should also help identify bottlenecks and facilitate timely resolution of issues.

Additional Chief Secretary, Agriculture Production Department, Dr Ashish Chandra Verma, said farmer participation under the project has witnessed significant growth since the last review, reflecting increasing confidence among the farming community. However, he noted that there remains substantial scope for improvement and called for intensified awareness campaigns and stronger last-mile delivery.

Presenting a status report, Mission Director JKCIP, Dr Sagar Doifode Dattatray, said the number of registered farmers under the programme has reached 60,283, marking an increase of nearly 189 per cent. He added that 67,579 applications have been received under various interventions, of which 43,168 have been approved.

According to the project data, 7,501 beneficiary units have already been established across Jammu & Kashmir.

A department-wise review highlighted progress across agriculture, horticulture, fisheries, sheep husbandry, animal husbandry, horticulture planning and marketing, and the two agricultural universities—SKUAST-Kashmir and SKUAST-Jammu.

The Agriculture Department has undertaken interventions in vegetable cultivation, aromatic rice, saffron, protected cultivation, water management systems, medicinal and aromatic plants, honey production and mushroom cultivation. Meanwhile, the Horticulture Department has expanded support for orchard rejuvenation, apple, walnut, kiwi, citrus, mango, guava, litchi cultivation, nursery development and water management initiatives.

Officials also informed the meeting that nearly all targets related to the registration and identification of Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) under the project have been achieved.

The Chief Secretary reviewed the Annual Work Plan and Budget for 2026-27 and directed departments to ensure optimum utilisation of financial resources and strict adherence to implementation timelines. He stressed that financial progress should remain aligned with physical achievements to maximise development outcomes.

The meeting was attended by senior officials, including Additional Chief Secretary, Agriculture Production Department, Vice Chancellors of SKUAST-Kashmir and SKUAST-Jammu, Mission Director JKCIP, heads of agriculture and allied departments, and representatives of the banking sector.

Concluding the review, Dulloo directed all implementing agencies to maintain momentum, closely monitor monthly progress and ensure that every intervention under JKCIP translates into visible socio-economic benefits for farmers across Jammu & Kashmir.