New Delhi (thestates.news) | NITI Aayog today organised a workshop and released the report titled “Roadmap for Horticulture Development in the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir” at NITI Aayog, New Delhi. The report was released in the presence of Shri Suman Bery, Vice Chairman, NITI Aayog; Prof. Ramesh Chand, Member (Agriculture), NITI Aayog; Ms. Nidhi Chhibber, CEO, NITI Aayog; and Dr. Neelam Patel, Programme Director, NITI Aayog.
The workshop, held in hybrid mode, brought together key stakeholders to deliberate on the transformation of the horticulture sector in Jammu & Kashmir. Discussions covered production systems, infrastructure, sustainability, value addition, and market competitiveness.
The event featured two technical sessions. The first session focused on structural transformation of horticulture in Jammu & Kashmir, including production systems, infrastructure, sustainability, and regulatory reforms. The second session focused on diversification, value addition, and export competitiveness, with participation from representatives of FPOs, cooperatives, SHGs, progressive farmers, and horticulture startups.
The sessions included addresses by Shri Vikas Anand, Director Horticulture, Kashmir; Shri Gul Sayed, Director Horticulture, Jammu; Dr. Prabhat Kumar, Horticulture Commissioner, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare; and Dr. Sanjay Kumar Singh, Deputy Director General (Horticultural Science), Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), followed by remarks from senior leadership of NITI Aayog.
The event witnessed participation from key institutions and organisations including the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST), Department of Agriculture Production, Government of Jammu & Kashmir, Horticulture Department, Jammu and Kashmir, ICAR-Central Institute of Temperate Horticulture (CITH), Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs), cooperatives, self-help groups (SHGs), and representatives from the private sector and horticulture startups.
The report presents a comprehensive and forward-looking roadmap to strengthen the horticulture sector in the Union Territory through a value-chain-based and technology-driven approach. It focuses on improving productivity, strengthening post-harvest and cold-chain infrastructure, promoting value addition, and enhancing market linkages.
A key highlight of the roadmap is the proposed mission framework, Operation Golden Greens, aimed at driving integrated development of horticulture across segments including fruits, dry fruits, vegetables, floriculture and minor crops through a phased and coordinated approach.
The roadmap outlines interventions across short-term, medium-term, and long-term horizons, aligned with the broader vision of building a competitive, resilient, and inclusive horticulture ecosystem in Jammu & Kashmir.
The initiative reflects NITI Aayog’s commitment to promoting cooperative federalism and supporting the Union Territory in leveraging its natural strengths to enhance farmer incomes, generate employment, and contribute to India’s vision of Viksit Bharat 2047. (s-pib)
