Jammu & Kashmir: Youth Becoming Agricultural Entrepreneurs with Govt Assistance

According to an official statement, the Jammu & Kashmir government has taken innovative measures and policy decisions to increase farmer income and encourage young people to pursue agriculture as a career.

According to the JK Department of Information and Public Relations, the government has shifted over the last two years to an improved farming system based on scientific principles and market-oriented policies in order to make agriculture and related sectors a sustainable and profitable economic activity. Notably, despite the challenges of agricultural reform, Jammu and Kashmir's monthly farm income ranking has improved, and J&K UT is now among the top 5 States/UTs.

According to officials, Jammu and Kashmir have limitless agricultural potential, and the government's concerted efforts are opening doors of opportunity for small and marginal farmers. Never before has high-density plantation investment in agro-based industries occurred at the rate seen in the last two years.

The Jammu and Kashmir government has prioritised the formation of umbrella groups for the sale of local and small-scale products, as well as brainstorming sessions on agricultural start-up innovations such as agro-processing, artificial intelligence, digital agriculture, agricultural mechanisation, waste to wealth, dairy, fisheries, and other entrepreneurship programmes.

According to officials, the Green Agriculture Revolution and the contributions of agricultural universities, institutions, and Krishi Vigyan Kendras have changed farming in an innovative way by extending the benefits of modern technologies to farmers. The government is developing strategies and credible mechanisms for scaling up farmer-led innovations, further strengthening the spirit of "Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat," and making J&K 'AatmaNirbhar' (self-reliant) in agriculture sectors, in addition to a slew of measures for achieving faster growth in agriculture and providing farmers with sustainable income and livelihood.

According to the JK Department of Information and Public Relations, the state now has thousands of Agri-preneurs and Champion Farmers whose lives have been transformed thanks to the support of the UT administration. Many female agri-preneurs encouraged others to start farming and earn a decent living.

Karrtar Chand of Rattal Udhampur was inspired by the Department of Horticulture Udhampur's ongoing and persistent efforts to establish a nursery of fruit plants in the private sector on his land. According to the official report, he established a good quality nursery in an area of 20 Kanals with the intervention of technical and subsidy support from the Department.

He began producing quality and elite planting material for fruit crops such as strawberries, walnuts, apples, and apricots, according to the official report. Furthermore, his annual production capacity has been increased to 3,50,000 fruit plants, including Strawberry Runner. His nursery is registered with the Department of Horticulture and is further accredited by the National Horticulture Board in Gurugram. He earns an average of Rs. 6.00 Lakhs (Rupees Six Lakhs) per year from the sale of fruit plants, in addition to providing/generating 1,500 mandays of employment per year.

Similarly, many female members of Self Help Groups in the Reasi area are involved in the value addition and processing of fruit and vegetable products. Previously, these women used time-consuming and laborious drying and processing methods. According to the official report, the department trained these SHG members in the art of processing and drying a variety of fruit and vegetable products such as aonla candy, mango leather, raw mango, mushroom, masala Tikki, vegetables, and so on. According to the official press release, the Department also assisted these ladies in purchasing 34 Solar Dryers with a 50% subsidy under the UT CAPEX budget during 2021-22. These solar dryers dry their produce in 1-2 days, whereas it used to take 10-15 days.

Now that these ladies are using solar dryers, their job has become less laborious, time-saving, and sanitary, and the quality of the products has improved dramatically as the natural colour and aroma are retained in the final product.