Multi-stakeholder platform meet under JKCIP held at Pulwama

Pulwama, Mar 28: Department of Horticulture Planning and Marketing today organised the 4th Multi-Stakeholder Platform (MSP) Meet of 2025-26, under the Jammu & Kashmir Competitiveness Improvement Project (JKCIP) at Conference Hall, SIDCO, Lasipora, Pulwama.

The event marked an important step towards strengthening collaboration among key stakeholders in the agriculture and horticulture sectors.

The meet was inaugurated by Director Horticulture Planning & Marketing, Ghulam Jeelani Zargar, who briefed the audience about the significance of Multi-Stakeholder Platform meets for overall development of Agri/Horticulture Sector.

While addressing the gathering, the Director emphasized the upliftment of the farming community through flagship initiatives such as the Holistic Agriculture Development Programme (HADP) and JKCIP. He urged all participants to actively raise their concerns, challenges, and suggestions on such platforms to enable effective, inclusive, and farmer-centric policy formulation. He reiterated the government’s commitment to strengthening agricultural value chains, improving market access, and enhancing farmers’ incomes.

The meet witnessed an overwhelming response from a wide spectrum of stakeholders, including Presidents from Fruit & Vegetable Markets of Jablipora, Pulwama, Shopian, Anantnag besides FPOs, progressive farmers, CA store operators, entrepreneurs, industrialists from processing & packaging sector, traders and HADP/JKCIP beneficiaries. The platform facilitated threadbare and constructive discussions on critical issues related to supply chain management, marketing linkages, post-harvest infrastructure, and institutional financing.

The concerns and suggestions raised by participants were addressed in detail by the concerned officers of various departments.

The various issues raised by the beneficiaries of Kissan Khidmat Ghars (KKG) and Rural Business & Service Hubs (RBSH) established under HADP were also discussed.

The event concluded with a felicitation ceremony, wherein the Dy.Director Central, Horticulture Planning and Marketing, felicitated the dignitaries, and experts from various institutions in recognition of their valuable contributions and support. The meet successfully reinforced the spirit of collaboration and dialogue, paving the way for sustainable growth and development of the agriculture and horticulture sectors in Jammu & Kashmir.

The event was also attended by the Functional Manager District Industries Centre (DIC) Pulwama, Officers from Agriculture Department, Horticulture Department and JK Horticulture Processing & Marketing Corporation, experts from SKUAST Kashmir, along with officers from various financial institutions.