Director Agriculture, Jammu, Anil Gupta, today concluded his two-day tour of District Poonch, aimed at reviewing departmental activities, assessing the progress of ongoing schemes and interacting with farmers and field functionaries.
On the first day, the Director, accompanied by the Chief Agriculture Officer, Poonch, Jograj Singh Salathia attended the Vibrant Villages Programme at Nangali Sahib, Poonch.
Later, the Director chaired a review meeting at the office of the Chief Agriculture Officer, Poonch, to assess the physical and financial progress achieved under the various schemes and programmes implemented by the Agriculture Department in the district. During the meeting, the Chief Agriculture Officer presented a detailed overview of the ongoing departmental activities, achievements and challenges. The Director stressed the need for timely execution of programmes, effective utilisation of available resources and the achievement of targets fixed for the current financial year. He also stressed the importance of closely monitoring field activities and ensuring maximum outreach of government schemes among the farming community.
On the second day, the Director visited Sub-Division Surankote, accompanied by the Chief Agriculture Officer, Poonch and other district and sub-divisional officers.
The Director first visited the hi-tech polyhouse of Farhad Choudhary, son of Mohd Bashir, a resident of Village Madana, Zone Lassana, Sub-Division Surankote. He inspected the functioning of the protected cultivation unit and appreciated the farmer for adopting modern agricultural technologies. Speaking on the occasion, the Director said protected cultivation had emerged as a viable option for enhancing farm productivity, improving crop quality and generating higher income for farmers. He encouraged farmers to take advantage of the government support available under various departmental schemes for establishing hi-tech agricultural infrastructure.
The Director then participated in an awareness programme organised under the ongoing Khet Bachao Abhiyan at Samote, Zone Surankote. During the interaction, he sought feedback from farmers on the challenges they faced in agriculture and discussed the latest technologies being adopted at the farm level. The Director also enquired about the benefits farmers were receiving under various departmental schemes and programmes. He reiterated the importance of balanced fertiliser use, soil health management and the adoption of climate-resilient agricultural practices for sustainable farming.
The Director then inspected another hi-tech polyhouse established by Tariq Mehmood, a resident of Samote Potha, Zone Surankote. He expressed satisfaction over the successful implementation of protected cultivation technologies in the area and urged farmers to diversify towards high-value crops to improve their livelihoods.
The Director, along with the Chief Agriculture Officer, Poonch, also visited the newly established Soil Testing Laboratory at Surankote, set up in 2025-26. He inspected the laboratory facilities and reviewed the availability of equipment and manpower. While interacting with the staff, the Director emphasised the critical role of soil testing in promoting balanced nutrient management and improving soil fertility. He directed the officers concerned to ensure timely analysis of soil samples and the dissemination of soil health recommendations among farmers so that fertiliser application is based on scientific principles.
During the tour, the Director also visited Kisan Khidmat Ghars (KKGs) established in Panchayats Lower Surankote and Upper Surankote. He reviewed the services being provided through these centres and interacted with beneficiaries. The Director stressed the need to strengthen KKGs as grassroots-level agricultural service hubs to facilitate farmers’ access to quality inputs, technical guidance and government schemes.
The Director interacted with Krishi Udyami Rabia Manhas and appreciated her entrepreneurial efforts in promoting agricultural services among local farmers. He said agri-entrepreneurship was creating new opportunities for rural youth and women and contributing significantly to the modernisation of the agriculture sector. He encouraged more educated youth to come forward and avail themselves of the opportunities provided under various government initiatives.