Kishtwar, April 25: Continuing the endeavours to realize the Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of doubling farmers income through various initiatives like One District One Product, a one day workshop was today organised in the conference hall of DC office Kishtwar.
The programme was attended by Deputy Commissioner, Ashok Sharma and Director Horticulture Planning and Marketing, Vishesh Mahajan.
In his address, the DC spoke about the opportunities available for youngsters for setting up enterprises under ODOP scheme. He also motivated youth to set up modern units for processing, packaging of walnuts.
“District administration is working out a plan for the establishment of Model “Mandi” in the district. A chunk of 50 Kanal land has been identified alongside the national highway to build a common platform for the display, sale and marketing of the product besides providing national level access to farmers” he said.
Vishesh Mahajan, Director Horticulture ( P&M ) made the audience aware of different schemes and subsidies available for entrepreneurs, who wish to venture into the agro food sector.
Both Director HPM and DC Kishtwar motivated youth to develop a passion for entrepreneurship and be the role model of growth for the region as well as for the whole of J&K.
DPO Kishtwar, Sunil Bhutyal, Area Marketing Officers Kishtwar Sunil Singh and Nodal officer Jammu Sourabh Sangral, besides about 300 farmers and orchardists drawn from different parts of the district Kishtwar also participated in the workshop.
During the workshop Area Marketing Officer Sunil Singh and Nodal officer Jammu Sourabh Sangral re-oriented and sensitized the farmers and the orchardists on “Processing and Value addition of Walnuts in District Kishtwar” besides highlighted the aim and objectives of the newly rolled out “Kisan Bhagidari, Prathmikta Hamari” campaign rolled out by govt of India across the India and in UT of JK which has started on the direction of Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.
It was informed in the workshop that the campaign which starts from April 25 will continue till April 30 as a part of ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’ celebration.
The Area Marketing officer shared various insights of the campaign with the farmers and informed that the scheme adopts the “One District One Product” (ODOP) approach to reap the benefit of scale in terms of procurement of inputs, availing common services and marketing of products.
Focusing on tapping the potential of the District to produce the walnut on large scale, the speakers also maintained that the Support for this products would be for their processing along with efforts to reduce wastage, proper assaying, and storage and marketing.
During the workshop the exports from the SKAUST Jammu and SKAUST Kashmir deliver a lecture on “Scope and future strategies for Processing and Value Addition of Walnuts in J&K, particularly in District Kishtwar”.
