Jammu Kashmir Assembly Approves Rs 8.68 Lakh Crore Grants for Agriculture, Rural Development and Allied Sectors | Kashmir Life

SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly on Tuesday approved grants worth Rs 8,68,102.86 lakh for key sectors including Rural Development and Panchayati Raj (Rs 4,56,569.56 lakh), Agriculture (Rs 2,42,386.40 lakh), Animal and Sheep Husbandry (Rs 1,16,040.98 lakh), Horticulture (Rs 69,648.23 lakh), Fisheries (Rs 20,620.56 lakh), Cooperatives (Rs 26,611.42 lakh) and the Election Department (Rs 36,126.71 lakh).

The grants were passed by voice vote following extensive deliberations in the House.

Winding up the discussion on Demands for Grants, Minister for Agriculture Production, Rural Development, Cooperatives and Election, Javid Ahmed Dar, described agriculture and allied sectors as the “lifeline of Jammu and Kashmir’s economy,” stressing their role in sustaining rural livelihoods, employment generation, food security and inclusive development.

The Minister said agriculture and allied activities contribute Rs 41,273 crore to the UT’s economy, representing 19 percent of its SGDP, with horticulture accounting for 41 percent, livestock 33 percent, and core agriculture 25 percent. He highlighted government initiatives under flagship schemes such as the High-Density Plantation Scheme, Integrated Dairy Development Scheme, Integrated Sheep Development Scheme, and Integrated Poultry Development Programme.

Dar noted that capital investments under HADP and JKCIP have expanded cultivable area by 80,000 hectares, while vertical farming and protected cultivation initiatives, including 332 hi-tech greenhouses and 848 polyhouses, have boosted cropping intensity to 250 percent. Oilseed cultivation has risen from 1.4 lakh to 2.1 lakh hectares, and honey production has crossed 3,895 MT with over one lakh bee colonies distributed.

On horticulture, he said fruit production increased from 26.43 lakh MT to 26.92 lakh MT, with plans to reach 29.72 lakh MT by 2029–30. High-density plantations and fruit nurseries at RS Pura, Marta and Lehwan are being developed to ensure disease-free, high-quality saplings. The SKUAST Jammu has established a State-of-the-Art Ex-Situ Gene Bank for genetic conservation.

Dar also outlined the expansion of Controlled Atmosphere (CA) storage with 15,000 MT of new capacity this year and the integration of mandis with the e-NAM platform, facilitating cumulative trade worth Rs 1,721 crore. Dairy, sheep and poultry sectors are being modernised with imported elite breeds and establishment of milk processing units to increase productivity and farmer incomes.

He further detailed rural development achievements, including 387.37 lakh MGNREGA person-days, completion of 15,093 PMAY-G houses, construction of 27,775 individual household latrines and 1,954 community sanitary complexes, and installation of greywater management and solid waste infrastructure across villages.

Under skill development initiatives, 1,427 rural youth were trained under Himayat 1.0, with 1,085 placed in employment. Over 7.9 lakh women have been mobilised into 95,000 Self-Help Groups, leveraging Rs 3,020 crore in bank credit. The Lakhpati Didi programme has created 2.01 lakh women entrepreneurs.

The Minister announced new initiatives for 2026–27, including the Aromatic and Medicinal Plants Mission (Rs 150 crore), Restructured Weather Based Insurance Scheme (Rs 6,594.93 crore sum insured), micro and sprinkler irrigation subsidy (Rs 116.86 crore), establishment of Centres of Excellence in each district, and expansion of high-density plantations and nurseries.

Plans for 40 new CA storage units with Rs 1,400 crore investment, seven milk processing plants, and support for sheep, dairy, honey, fisheries and sericulture clusters were also highlighted.

Dar said these efforts reflect the government’s vision to transform rural Jammu Kashmir into self-reliant, productive, and prosperous communities, ensuring balanced regional development and strengthening livelihoods, food security, and income generation across the Union Territory.