A prestigious project

30/01/2023

Jammu and Kashmir is home to a diverse range of niche crops including Saffron, Kalazeera, Kashmiri Lal Mirch, Peanut, Anardhana, Bhaderwah Rajmash, hill garlic, Mushkbudhji (aromatic rice), Red Rice and Shallot (Pran). These crops are grown on an area of 32,000 hectare, with a total production of 24,000 metric tons making a substantial contribution of Rs. 945 crore to the UT GDP. The main components of the project included establishment of 5,226 nurseries/ seed villages, which will generate 7750 job opportunities for unemployed youth working in the niche sector. Additionally, the project will take up creation of one Mini Spice Park, two Modern Rice Mills and eleven grading and processing units in target clusters, which will be linked with available NABL laboratories and e-trading centers of UT. This will facilitate quality promotion and value addition, leading to profitable accessibility to the market. Jammu and Kashmir government has approved a prestigious project worth Rs 146 crore to promote the niche crops as unique heritage of the UT, which will be implemented in the next five years. The project aims at diversifying and expanding the area of niche crops over an area of 11,100 hectare thus ensuring livelihood security for 111,000 targetted beneficiaries with a revenue realization of Rs. 2,238 Crore", Additional Chief Secretary (ACS), Agriculture Production Department (APD).
To promote these niche crops at the export level, the project shall also undertake tagging of identified niche crops, for which descriptors will be developed for their uniqueness. Likewise, the project will ensure human resource development for capacity building and employment generation. The project is being jointly undertaken by SKUAST Jammu and Kashmir besides the Agriculture and Farmer Welfare Department, Jammu and Kashmir. There is a long history of cultivating these niche crops in J&K, particularly in heritage sites such as Pampore, Gurez, Padder, Kishtwar, Bhaderwah, Bandipora, Sagam, Tangdar, Ramban and Poonch" and that these crops, including spices, aromatic crops and underutilized horticultural crops, have a significant commercial value and potential to be awarded a GI tag, similar to the tag achieved for Kashmir Saffron. To meet the emerging market demand for niche crops as functional food, there is an immediate need to extend the area of cultivation in similar agro-ecological conditions in J&K, either as a sole crop or as an intercrop. The introduction of niche value chains in prevailing cropping systems will not only increase production but will also meet the goal of raising farmers income substantially, ensuring livelihood security and stability. The initiative will focus on increasing production, improving livelihoods and enhancing market accessibility. This will be achieved through establishment of nurseries and seed villages, infrastructure development, and collaboration with various partners and stakeholders.

Photo Gallery

BSE Sensex

NSE Nifty