Calls for timely irrigation, better seeds and modern techniques to boost farmers’ incomes amid changing weather patterns
JAMMU: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Tuesday emphasized that the establishment of Centres of Excellence in agriculture and allied sectors is aimed at providing high-quality plant material and seeds to farmers, enabling them to significantly enhance their earnings.
The Chief Minister made these remarks after inaugurating the Centre of Excellence for Entrepreneurship in Precision Vegetable and Floriculture Farming at Talab Tillo, developed under NABARD at a project cost of ₹5.929 crore.
Last year in August, the foundation stone for this facility was laid by the Chief Minister on August 4, 2025.
Today, following the inauguration, the Chief Minister took a detailed tour of the facility and appreciated the Agriculture Production Department for establishing the hi-tech infrastructure in a record time.
Addressing farmers on the occasion, the Chief Minister spoke about the growing challenges in agriculture due to changing climatic conditions and the need for modern interventions.
“In today’s world, being a farmer is not an easy task. It may have never been easy, but it may not have been as difficult as it is today. Because whether a farmer trusts anything or not, he had faith in the weather. But the circumstances of the world have changed so much that it would be foolishness to trust the weather today.”
He said erratic weather patterns have made farming increasingly unpredictable.
“When we need rain, sometimes we don’t get it. Then when the rain comes, we don’t get it. We get a month’s rain in 24 hours. We often sell our crops and get rain. Now, look at tomorrow. Look at Shopian and other areas. How much damage has been caused by the hailstorm.”
Calling it the government’s responsibility to support farmers, he said:
“Now, in these circumstances, it is the government’s responsibility to help the farmers as much as possible. Now, we cannot change the weather. The weather is for everyone. But at least we should reduce the effects of the weather, the dangers of the weather.”
The Chief Minister stressed measures such as crop insurance, assured irrigation and improved infrastructure to mitigate risks.
“Whether it is for crop insurance, for agriculture, and now it will be for horticulture. Assured water supply through irrigation.”
He also highlighted the importance of strengthening irrigation at the grassroots level.
“Often there is a complaint that we clean the big canals, but we don’t pay attention to the small canals that deliver water to the tail end. This time, I have told the minister concerned and officials that we will have to clean the last part of the canals, the tail end, so that the water reaches the farmers and the farmers can do their farming properly.”
Emphasizing the critical role of quality inputs, the Chief Minister said:
“As long as we provide plant material to the farmers, as long as we do not provide the proper quality of the seed, it is injustice to the farmers. Because the poor farmer puts the seed in the ground, then works hard and if the seed is not of the right quality then all the hard work of the farmer is wasted.”
He said the newly established Centre of Excellence would address this gap.
“This is the purpose of this high-tech polyhouse that we have made today, this Centre of Excellence… The farmers will have faith in that plant material that yes, after doing his hard work, the crop that will grow from here, I will get the full benefit of it when I sell this thing in the market.”
Lauding the department for timely execution of the project, he congratulated the Agriculture Department, the Minister, the Additional Chief Secretary, and all the officers.
The Chief Minister called for replication of such facilities across districts.
“In the same way, this should be done in the other districts so that the right quality plant material can be delivered to us at the right time.”
Reiterating the government’s commitment, he said: “Whatever resources I have, whether it is finance, planning… however much we can help the Agriculture Production Department, we will definitely do it.”
He assured continued support to farmers and local representatives.
“We will try our best to strengthen the hands of our people who are involved in agriculture and increase their earnings… we will do our best to serve their area,” he said.
On the occasion, the Chief Minister also handed over sanction letters to beneficiaries under the HADP scheme.
Speaking at the event, Minister for Agriculture Production Javid Ahmed Dar said that Centres of Excellence would be established in all 20 districts of Jammu and Kashmir, as announced in Budget 2026-27, adding that significant progress in the agriculture and allied sectors would be visible within the next 2–3 years.
Advisor to the Chief Minister Nasir Aslam Wani expressed hope that other projects would also be completed in record time, stating that the government believes in delivering results on the ground.
He noted that while most of J&K’s population resides in rural areas and traditionally practices farming, the adoption of modern techniques would significantly boost the region’s economy.
MLA Jammu West Arvind Gupta thanked the Chief Minister for completing the facility in record time and said that the people have high expectations from the Omar Abdullah led government
Additional Chief Secretary Agriculture Production Department Ashish Chander Verma, Director Agriculture Jammu Anil Gupta, Director J&K Horticulture Produce, Marketing and Processing Corporation Ghulam Jeelani Zargar, senior officers, and a large number of farmers were present on the occasion.
