RAJOURI, OCTOBER 22: The District-Level Committee (DLC) under the Holistic Agriculture Development Programme (HADP) met today under the chairmanship of District Development Commissioner Dr. Devansh Yadav to review the implementation of the programme and discuss strategies for strengthening the agriculture and allied sectors in Rajouri district.
The meeting was attended by officers from the Agriculture, Horticulture, Animal Husbandry, Sheep Husbandry, Sericulture, JK HPMC, Fisheries, Forest, Revenue, KVK, Cooperative, Banking and Industry sectors, along with representatives of the district administration and other concerned departments.
The meeting conducted a detailed review of the activities and proposals undertaken by stakeholder departments under HADP. Discussions focused on identifying viable, income-generating activities, promoting entrepreneurship in agriculture and allied sectors and ensuring that the benefits of the programme reach farmers across the district.
Speaking at the meeting, the District Development Commissioner emphasized the need to establish profitable and sustainable agricultural enterprises under HADP, with focus on achieving self-sufficiency in milk and vegetable production in the district. He stressed the importance of preparing and implementing a coordinated plan to support milk producers and vegetable growers and incentivize them to market their produce locally. Such initiatives, he observed, would help strengthen local supply chains, improve farmers’ returns and reduce dependence on supplies from outside the district.
The DDC further emphasized the need to promote and strengthen Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) and encourage them to take up large-scale, commercially viable projects under HADP. He called upon the concerned departments to facilitate the development of suitable project proposals that could generate sustainable livelihood opportunities for farmers, particularly rural youth, and encourage entrepreneurship in the agriculture and allied sectors.
Dr. Yadav stressed that all concerned departments must work in close coordination to identify local opportunities, address implementation-related challenges and facilitate the establishment of viable farm-based enterprises. He underscored the importance of adopting a farmer-centric approach that translates the objectives of HADP into tangible economic benefits for the farming community.
The meeting also highlighted the potential of interdepartmental coordination, institutional support and banking linkages in facilitating agricultural investments, strengthening market access and promoting value addition in the district.
The participating officers were urged to work collectively towards effective implementation of HADP interventions, with a focus on commercial viability, local market demand, employment generation and enhanced income for farmers.
The meeting concluded with an emphasis on coordinated efforts by all agriculture and allied departments to unlock the agricultural potential of Rajouri district and create sustainable livelihood opportunities for farmers, rural youth and other stakeholders.
The meeting was attended by the PO ICDS, Harpal Singh; ACR, Mohd Jahangir Khan; ACP, Mohammad Rafeeq; DSHO, PP Sagotra; CAO, Rajesh Verma; Dy Registrar CS, Adnan Rathar and other concerned officers.
