Union Minister for Agriculture, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, will visit Jammu and Kashmir on July 3 and 4, 2025. He aims to promote sustainable agriculture and rural development during this trip. The visit includes meetings and a university convocation.
On the first day, Chouhan will start with a review meeting at the Civil Secretariat in Srinagar. He will meet senior officials from the Ministry of Agriculture and the Department of Rural Development. In the afternoon, he will attend a meeting on Natural Farming and the National Oilseeds Mission. Later, he will have a courtesy meeting with the Lieutenant Governor of Jammu & Kashmir, Manoj Sinha.
On the second day, Chouhan will be the chief guest at the sixth convocation ceremony of the Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST-K). This event will take place at the Shalimar Convention Centre in Srinagar. During the ceremony, around 5,250 students will receive their degrees. Additionally, 150 gold medals and 445 merit certificates will be awarded to outstanding students.
After the convocation, Chouhan will visit saffron and apple orchards on the university’s campus. He will interact with farmers and horticulture scientists. This visit highlights the importance of agriculture in Jammu and Kashmir.
Chouhan’s visit is part of a broader initiative to strengthen agriculture in the region. Previously, he launched the ‘Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan.’ This campaign aims to involve farmers in agricultural research. Over 2,170 teams surveyed 60,823 villages to gather insights from 1.23 lakh farmers.
Chouhan emphasised that farmers’ recommendations will shape future research. This approach aims to boost farm income and production. He also attended a soybean workshop where he discussed agricultural priorities with other state ministers.
Chouhan noted that agriculture is vital for India’s economy. The government is focused on increasing production and ensuring fair prices for farmers. He mentioned the impressive rise in food grain production this year. This includes record outputs in rice, wheat, and soybeans.
The ‘Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan’ will engage directly with farmers. It aims to educate them about modern farming techniques and government schemes. The campaign is set to reach over 1.5 crore farmers across India.
Through these efforts, the government seeks to align agricultural research with farmers’ needs. Chouhan’s visit to Jammu and Kashmir is a crucial step in this direction. It reflects a commitment to empowering farmers and promoting sustainable practices in the region.
As the visit approaches, many farmers and local leaders are optimistic about the outcomes. They hope that these initiatives will bring positive changes in their agricultural practices and overall development.