Govt intensifies Agriculture, Irrigation, Market-linkage interventions in Lolab: Javid Dar

Srinagar, Sep 25: Minister for Agriculture Production, Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, Cooperative and Election departments, Javid Ahmad Dar, Friday informed the Legislative Assembly that the Government is implementing a comprehensive package of schemes and interventions to strengthen agriculture and allied activities, irrigation, mechanization, post-harvest management and market linkages in Lolab Constituency of Kupwara district.
The Minister was replying to a question raised by MLA Qaysar Jamshaid Lone in the House Friday.
Javid Dar said that Lolab constitutes an important Agricultural belt of Kupwara district, with agriculture and horticulture plantations spread over approximately 9,134 hectares. Of this, 4,320.44 hectares (47 per cent) are irrigated, while 4,813.6 hectares (53 per cent) are unirrigated, besides around 1,213 hectares classified as uncultivable.
He said the Government has established a dedicated field-level departmental structure in the area, including the Sub-Divisional Agriculture Office at Sogam, to ensure effective implementation of agricultural schemes and delivery of extension services to farmers.
The Minister stated that the Agriculture Department is implementing various Central Sector, Centrally Sponsored and UT Government schemes in Lolab, with particular emphasis on the Holistic Agriculture Development Programme (HADP), J&K Comprehensive Investment Plan (JKCIP), Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY), Kisan Credit Card (KCC), Seed Village Programme, farm mechanization, protected cultivation, natural farming and allied-sector activities.
Highlighting the impact of HADP, Javid Dar said that the programme represents a collaborative approach involving farmers, scientists, academicians, policymakers and administrators, aimed at bringing transformative changes in the agriculture sector through technology, innovation, diversification and value addition.
He informed the House that, as of August 2026, approximately 4,226 units under HADP/CAPEX had been approved and established in Lolab, with financial assistance of around ₹269.88 lakh. The subdivision also has 28 functional Kisan Khidmat Ghars (KKGs) and 28 Krishi Udyamis (KUs), providing localized support and services to farmers.
On JKCIP, the Minister said that the project is focused on improving the competitiveness and climate resilience of farming operations through a value-chain approach encompassing production, value addition and marketing of high-value commodities. During 2025–26, 127 JKCIP units were established in Sogam block, with financial assistance of around Rs 15.75 lakh.
He further informed the Assembly that Rs 33.62 lakh had been provided to 1,867 beneficiaries under PM-KISAN, while Rs 37.44 lakh had been extended to 422 beneficiaries under Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS).
The Minister said that the Government is providing support to farmers through a wide range of interventions, including quality seed production and replacement, demonstrations, farmer training, subsidized farm machinery, Custom Hiring Centres and Farm Machinery Banks, soil testing and Soil Health Cards, natural farming, protected cultivation, irrigation development, water conservation and efficient water-use practices.
He added that interventions under MIDH and horticulture schemes are also being utilized for orchard development, quality planting material, protected cultivation and post-harvest management, while allied-sector schemes are promoting dairy, sheep and goat rearing, poultry, apiculture, mushroom cultivation and fisheries as additional sources of rural income.
On irrigation and infrastructure, Javid Dar said that the Government intends to strengthen irrigation, water harvesting, storage, grading, sorting, packaging, processing and other post-harvest facilities in Lolab through convergence of ongoing schemes and programmes, including CAPEX, NABARD, SACS, PMC, HADP, MIDH and JKCIP, subject to scheme guidelines and availability of funds.
He said that priority is being accorded to the improvement and restoration of irrigation infrastructure, promotion of drip and sprinkler irrigation, water conservation and efficient utilization of available water resources.
The Minister further stated that efforts are being made to strengthen FPOs and market linkages to facilitate aggregation, value addition, post-harvest management and better marketing of farm and horticultural produce.
Emphasizing the Government’s focus on improving farmers’ livelihoods, Javid Dar said that convergence of agriculture, horticulture and allied-sector schemes is being pursued to increase productivity, reduce cultivation and post-harvest losses, improve market access and enhance farm incomes.