Kishtwar : To strengthen the agricultural sector in the district, the Deputy Commissioner (DC) Kishtwar, Pankaj Kumar Sharma Wednesday chaired a comprehensive review meeting to assess ongoing agricultural activities, implementation of government schemes and challenges faced by the sector.
During the meeting, the DC reviewed various Centrally Sponsored and UT Government Schemes, including Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY), Soil Health Card Scheme and Holistic Agriculture Development Programme (HADP).
Key discussions focused on seed distribution, fertilizer availability, irrigation infrastructure and adoption of modern, sustainable farming practices.
The DC stressed the importance of improving agricultural productivity through focused interventions. He directed the Agriculture Department to speed up farmer registrations under the “Daksh Kisan” initiative, setting a target of enrolling 15,000 farmers in the coming weeks.
The DC emphasized the need for massive awareness campaigns, timely distribution of quality inputs and promotion of organic farming. Special attention was given to cultivating high-value and climate-resilient crops, especially Black Zeera and Saffron which are unique to the region and have high commercial potential.
To enhance administrative efficiency, the DC instructed officials to fill key vacancies, including assigning staff to AEO positions in Marwah and Warwan. He further directed the department to focus on performance indicators that affect the district’s ranking under the HADP and work actively to improve Kishtwar’s performance.
The review also covered major challenges like irrigation shortages, limited market access and the need for capacity-building programs to equip farmers with technical knowledge and modern techniques.
The DC highlighted the need for close coordination among concerned departments and effective field-level implementation to ensure that the benefits of government schemes reach the grassroots level.
Lauding the ongoing efforts of the Agriculture Department, the DC reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to building a resilient and inclusive agricultural system. He stressed the importance of turning policy into real results that improve the lives of farmers across the district.
The meeting was attended by CAO Kishtwar Kushal Chandel, SDAO Padder Dheeraj Singh, along with other officials and field staff of the Agriculture Department.
