Jammu and Kashmir to Receive a Clean Plant Center Worth Rs 150 Crore; Shivraj Singh Chouhan Encourages Students to Delve into Agricultural Innovation at the SKUAST-K Convocation Ceremony
**Union Agriculture Minister Outlines Six-Point Strategy for Empowering Farmers in Jammu and Kashmir**
Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan visited Jammu and Kashmir for the second consecutive day, reaffirming the Centre's commitment to transforming the region into a global horticulture hub. During his visit, he attended the sixth convocation of Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST-K) in Srinagar, where over 5,000 students received degrees.
Addressing the gathering, Chouhan praised the natural beauty and warmth of the people in Jammu & Kashmir, describing it as the "crown jewel of India." He also lauded the efforts of SKUAST-K, calling it a nationally and globally recognised institution.
Chouhan outlined a six-point strategy for farming in Jammu and Kashmir, aimed at increasing production, reducing input costs, ensuring fair prices, providing compensation for losses, diversifying crops, and promoting natural farming to preserve soil health.
A key initiative in this strategy is the establishment of a INR 150-crore Clean Plant Center in Srinagar under the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH). This center will provide disease-free planting materials for apples, almonds, walnuts, and berries, ensuring availability of high-quality, pathogen-free plants to farmers, including support for private nurseries.
Another point in the strategy is the inclusion of farmers with government land allotments but lacking documentation into the PM-KISAN scheme, ensuring they receive financial support. The Minister also announced the launch of the Restructured Weather Based Crop Insurance Scheme (RWBCIS) to better cover horticulture crops under the PM Fasal Bima Yojana, providing improved risk management for farmers.
Chouhan emphasised the critical role of agriculture in India's future and the need for sustainable and natural farming methods, aligning with central schemes aiming to expand agricultural sustainability and self-reliance in the region. He also highlighted the importance of developing export infrastructure, research, branding, and cold-chain logistics to transform Jammu and Kashmir into a leading horticulture hub.
The Minister also stressed the need for reforms in the pesticide ecosystem with strict penalties on substandard chemicals to ensure farmers retain higher profit shares through transparent pricing and affordable inputs. Chouhan expressed a desire for Kashmiri apples to reach international markets, reducing India's need to import apples.
During his visit, Chouhan visited border villages with agricultural scientists, emphasizing the need for development to reach remote corners of the country. He noted a 44% jump in India's foodgrain production over the past 11 years and expressed optimism about the potential for Jammu and Kashmir's farming sector.
The convocation ceremony was attended by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Deputy Chief Minister Rajendra Chaudhary, Education Minister Sakina Masood, and other senior officials and dignitaries. Quoting Swami Vivekananda, Chouhan urged students to "move forward with purpose" and serve the nation with dedication.
[1] Press Information Bureau, Government of India. (2025, April 1). Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan outlines six-point strategy for empowering farmers in Jammu and Kashmir. [Press release]. Retrieved from https://pib.gov.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=227026
[2] Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare. (n.d.). Sustainable Agriculture. Retrieved from https://agricoop.gov.in/sustainable-agriculture
[3] Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare. (n.d.). Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH). Retrieved from https://agricoop.gov.in/midh
[4] Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare. (n.d.). Agriculture Infrastructure Fund. Retrieved from https://agricoop.gov.in/agriculture-infrastructure-fund
- The six-point strategy for empowering farmers in Jammu and Kashmir, as outlined by the Union Agriculture Minister, includes initiatives related to general news, learning, and policy-and-legislation, such as reforms in the pesticide ecosystem and the inclusion of farmers into the PM-KISAN scheme.
- To achieve the goal of transforming Jammu and Kashmir into a global horticulture hub, the Union Agriculture Minister highlighted the importance of developing education-and-self-development resources, like the Clean Plant Center under the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH), that would support farmers in their efforts to produce high-quality, pathogen-free plants, ultimately fostering sustainable and natural farming methods.
