SAMBA: Mission Director Holistic Agriculture Development Programme (HADP), Rahul Yadav recently led a comprehensive tour of District Samba to evaluate the progress of varied agricultural projects under HADP.
He was accompanied by Joint Director Agriculture Extension Satish Sharma; Technical Officer HADP Jammu Division Raj Kumar; District Agriculture Officer (DAO) and other officials from allied sectors.
The visit focused on initiatives aimed at transforming agriculture and enhancing the livelihoods of farmers in the district.
The tour began with a briefing from DAO Samba, who provided updates on the developmental works currently being undertaken in the district.
The Mission Director, along with his team, visited several project sites to review their impact, with a special emphasis on innovation, sustainability, and community engagement.
During the visit, Rahul Yadav inspected a High-Tech Polyhouse at Panchayat Raika Labana in Vijaypur. This polyhouse promotes controlled-environment agriculture, enabling higher crop productivity, while mitigating risks from external environmental factors.
Additionally, he visited the Exotic Vegetable Park at Rakh Dhiansar, where he urged officials to develop nurseries on scientific lines, establishing it as a model facility showcasing advanced agricultural practices.
In furtherance of support for mechanized farming, the Mission Director handed over keys of two tractors to beneficiaries under the Farm Mechanization and Automation Project (HADP), offering 50% subsidy. He also inspected Vermicompost units at Deon Village, Purmandal, which are part of the Rain-fed Area Development Project under HADP, helping farmers adopt organic farming techniques to enhance soil fertility.
Promoting diversified farming, the Mission Director inspected the farm of Ram Chand practicing Integrated Farming System (IFS) and Mushroom Sheds and Controlled Condition Cropping Units established under HADP to encourage mushroom cultivation as a viable income source.
The Mission Director also visited Dairy development initiatives, including the Sita Ram Self-Help Group in Village Khara Madana and the Nari Shakti Self-Help Group in Village Deon. He inspected a Satellite Heifer Unit under the Dairy Development Project at Ram Chand’s farm in Village Katwakta and interacted with members of the Nari Shakti Fresh Life Dairy Farmers Producer Organization (FPO) in Village Gurgani, which is focused on dairy value addition and women empowerment.
Expressing satisfaction with the progress in District Samba, Rahul Yadav remarked, the HADP is making a significant difference in the lives of our farmers. By focusing on sustainable and innovative agricultural practices, we are not only enhancing their income and livelihood but also ensuring that these benefits reach the most deserving sections of our rural community. The positive feedback from farmers during this visit reinforces the value of these initiatives in empowering local agriculture.