Dr. Mangla Rai Leads Apex Committee Review of HADP with J&K Chief Minister
SRINAGAR: The Apex Committee for the Holistic Agriculture Development Program (HADP), chaired by renowned agricultural scientist Dr. Mangla Rai, former DG of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), today met with Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to review the program’s progress in Jammu and Kashmir.
The meeting was attended by committee members including Dr. P.K. Joshi, Secretary NAAS; Dr. H.S. Gupta, former Director IARI; Prof. Nazir Ahmad Ganai, Vice Chancellor SKUAST-K; Dr. B.N. Tripathi, Vice Chancellor SKUAST-J; and Dr. J.P. Sharma, former VC SKUAST-J. Mission Director HADP, Sandeep Kumar, was also present.
Dr. Mangla Rai provided the Chief Minister with a comprehensive overview of HADP, presenting a two-year progress report and offering recommendations to further strengthen implementation and impact. He highlighted the Apex Committee’s role in steering the program through strategic interventions aimed at transforming the agricultural sector and improving the socio-economic conditions of farmers.
He also briefed the Chief Minister on the ongoing three-day midterm review (2023–2025) of HADP, being held at Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Kashmir, noting that deliberations will continue over the next two days to ensure all program objectives are met.
During the discussion, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah emphasized the importance of a comprehensive roadmap for sustainable agriculture, diversification, and empowerment of farming communities. He stressed integrated strategies addressing key challenges such as soil health, water management, modern farming techniques, and market linkages.
Highlighting agriculture’s pivotal role in J&K’s economy, he reaffirmed the government’s commitment to providing farmers with access to modern inputs, credit, technology, and markets, noting that the region is emerging as a national model in agriculture.
Commending the Apex Committee for the program’s progress, the Chief Minister called for enhanced promotion of horticulture and allied activities, strengthening rural infrastructure, and establishing a robust support system for small and marginal farmers. He assured the committee of government support to accelerate agricultural growth through progressive policies and active collaboration.
The Chief Minister also praised the Vice Chancellors of SKUAST-K and SKUAST-J for significant improvements in academic and research standards, citing their NIRF rankings—7th for SKUAST-K and 23rd for SKUAST-J.
