CM Omar Abdullah Inaugurates Rs 5.929 Crore Centre of Excellence to Enhance Farmers’ Income | Kashmir Life

SRINAGAR: CM Omar Abdullah on Tuesday inaugurated a Rs 5.929 crore Centre of Excellence for Entrepreneurship in Precision Vegetable and Floriculture Farming at Talab Tillo, aimed at providing high-quality plant material and seeds to farmers to enhance their productivity and earnings.

The facility has been developed with support from NABARD, with its foundation stone laid by the Chief Minister on August 4, 2025. Following the inauguration, Abdullah toured the hi-tech infrastructure and appreciated the Agriculture Production Department for completing the project in record time.

Addressing farmers, the Chief Minister highlighted the growing challenges in agriculture due to changing climatic conditions, stating that erratic weather patterns have made farming increasingly unpredictable. Referring to recent hailstorm damage in Shopian and other areas, he said farmers can no longer rely on traditional weather cycles.

He stressed that while weather cannot be controlled, the government must act to reduce its adverse impact by strengthening support systems such as crop insurance, assured irrigation, and improved infrastructure. He also emphasized the need to ensure proper maintenance of smaller irrigation canals so that water reaches farmers at the tail end.

Underscoring the importance of quality inputs, Abdullah said that providing substandard seeds and planting material results in losses for farmers despite their hard work. He said the newly established Centre of Excellence, equipped with advanced polyhouse technology, will ensure reliable and high-quality plant material, giving farmers confidence in better yields and returns.

The Chief Minister called for replication of such facilities across all districts of Jammu and Kashmir to ensure timely availability of quality inputs. Reiterating the government’s commitment, he said all possible financial and planning support would be extended to strengthen the agriculture sector and improve farmers’ incomes.

On the occasion, Abdullah also distributed sanction letters among beneficiaries under the HADP scheme. Agriculture Production Minister Javid Ahmed Dar said similar Centres of Excellence would be established in all 20 districts as announced in the 2026–27 Budget, adding that significant progress in agriculture and allied sectors is expected within the next two to three years.

Advisor to the Chief Minister Nasir Aslam Wani said the government is focused on delivering results on the ground, while MLA Jammu West Arvind Gupta appreciated the timely completion of the project and expressed confidence in the government’s development initiatives.

Senior officials, including Ashish Chander Verma, Anil Gupta and Ghulam Jeelani Zargar, along with a large number of farmers, were present at the event.