The Chairman Apex Committee for Holistic Agriculture Development Programme (HADP) and former DG ICAR, Dr. Mangla Rai today visited different areas of South Kashmir including Pulwama , Anantnag, Shopian districts. He held interactions with the farmers, agri-entrepreneurs at many places and took stock of the overall implementation of different projects under HADP.
While talking to the farmers, Dr Mangla Rai expressed satisfaction over the comprehensive, successful implementation of different interventions under different programs of HADP. He said that the successful implementation of HADP will transform the Agriculture from being subsistence to commercial and sustainable activity and will achieve higher rates of growth.
The Holistic approach will bring equitable distribution of benefits and improve the lives of farming families, he added.Chairman Apex Committee expressed his utmost satisfaction over the successful implementation of different projects under HADP and said "this is one of the best scenario I have ever witnessed in my entire career".
He appreciated Director Agriculture Kashmir Chawdhry Mohammad Iqbal and his team for his commitment and professional approach adopted during the successful implementation of different projects under HADP.Notably, for Holistic Development of Agriculture and allied sectors, the J&K Administration has approved the implementation of 29 projects recommended by an Apex Committee of experts headed by Dr. Mangla Rai, former Director General ICAR, with an outlay of Rs 5013 cr over the next five years.
During the visit Director Agriculture Kashmir Chowdhury Mohammad Iqbal and Director Horticulture Kashmir Zahoor Ahmad Bhat briefed Dr Mangla Rai about various interventions under different projects of HADP by the concerned departments. Director Agriculture informed the Chairman that the department and farming community are working in coordinated manner to achieve the set targets under different projects in a time bound and effective manner.
Earlier, Dr Mangla Rai visited different HADP works at many places including hi-tech Poly Houses, Vermi Compost units, Niche Crop Fields, Mushk Budgi seed villages, High Density Orchards, Farmer's Vegetable Farms and other Units established under HADP. He received feedback from the farmers regarding various interventions and held exchange of thoughts with them.
Director Agriculture Kashmir, Chowdhury Mohammad Iqbal, Director Horticulture Kashmir Zahoor Ahmad Bhat, Director Sheep Husbandry Kashmir Dr. Rafiq Ahmad Shah, Chief Agriculture officers and Chief Horticulture officers of concerned districts and other senior officers were present on the occasion.