Aiming to Revolutionize Local Agriculture and Boost Farmer Welfare
Suhail Khan
Kupwara, Nov 02 : Jammu and Kashmir’s Agriculture Minister Javid Ahmad Dar, stated that the government has laid the foundation for a Walnut Center of Excellence in the 12 districts of Kashmir.
Talking to Kashmir Despatch during his Kupwara visit, he noted that Kupwara has been a hub for walnuts and this initiative will introduce new walnut varieties that are smaller and easier to harvest, as well as modern technology for local farmers.
Dar emphasized that the goal is to raise awareness and transform the walnut industry for lasting benefits.
He mentioned that this project has sufficient funding and that efforts will be made to ensure that all farmers in the entire valley and state are informed about these schemes. It is essential that these schemes are implemented at the grassroots level, as that will be the primary focus to ensure that farmers receive proper benefits.
Last week, Agriculture Minister Javed Ahmad Dar stated that his priority is to create mass awareness among the public and farmers about various central schemes, especially the Holistic Agriculture Development Program (HADP), which aims to boost production and the economy for stakeholders.
The Minister also indicated that his vision includes consulting experts and officials to assess whether the conversion of agricultural land is occurring in an unplanned manner in J&K.
