UDHAMPUR, MARCH 6: A day-long awareness cum exhibition event, focusing on the promotion of Millets, was organized by the Chief Agriculture Officer here at Panchayat Sial Jattan (Zone Jib) of Udhampur.
The event witnessed the presence of District Development Council Chairman Udhampur, Lal Chand as the chief guest.
More than 150 farmers actively participated, gaining insights into the Central Sector Schemes (CSS) and JK UT Govt’s initiatives for the welfare of the farming community and unemployed youth.
Special emphasis was placed on the Holistic Agriculture Development Programme (HADP), aiming to bolster the rural economy and generate employment opportunities.
The Department of Agriculture Production & Farmers Welfare reiterated its commitment to support farmers throughout the cultivation-to-marketing process by strengthening the supply chain and providing incentives at every stage. Farmers were encouraged to adopt innovative agricultural practices such as crop diversification, integrated farming systems, protected cultivation, and the use of organic manures to enhance production, productivity, and ecological sustainability.
As part of the event, various millet varieties were showcased, accompanied by millet-based dishes like kheer and pakoras. Hybrid vegetable seeds were also distributed to farmers. Additionally, farmers were briefed on the potential of non-farm activities like mushroom cultivation and beekeeping as supplementary sources of income to achieve nutritional security and double their farm income sustainably.
The event included an interactive session where farmers’ queries were addressed, and their concerns noted. Among the dignitaries present were Chief Horticulture Officer Udhampur Brij Vallabh Gupta, District Officers, PRI representatives, and Agriculture Extension Officer of Jib Zone, along with their respective staff.
In his concluding remarks, Chairman of the District Development Council Udhampur, Lal Chand, expressed gratitude to all stakeholders for the success of the event. He emphasized the importance of such outreach activities in ensuring comprehensive coverage of government welfare initiatives and urged farmers and unemployed youth to embrace agricultural innovations to increase production, productivity, and employment opportunities.
The event was coordinated by D L S. Sukhbir Singh, who also delivered the vote of thanks.
