 Early Times Report
JAMMU, Feb 4: A one-day orientation programme on the Holistic Agriculture Development Programme (HADP) for Ex-Servicemen was organized by Department of Agriculture Jammu today at Baba Jitto, Kisan Kendra, Talab Tillo, Jammu. The event was graced by Maj Gen Goverdhan Singh Jamwal (Retd.), Chairman of JAK Ex-Servicemen Cooperative Store Ltd., as the Chief Guest. The programme was presided over by S. Arvinder Singh Reen, Director Agriculture Jammu, and was attended by several distinguished dignitaries, including Shri Satish Sharma, Joint Director Agriculture (Extension/SLUB), Lt Gen Dr. Rakesh Sharma (Retd.), Chairman JKDCL & UAMMCL, Shri Vikrant Dogra, Brigadier Dr. Vijay Sagar Dheman (Retd.), Deputy Director (Central) Dr. Ashwani Sharma, Deputy Director (Trainings) Shri Alok Pandotra, and other senior officials.
The orientation programme aimed to familiarize Ex-Servicemen with the objectives and benefits of the HADP projects, which focus on sustainable agricultural practices. Shri Raj Kumar, Technical Officer of HADP, gave a detailed presentation on the various HADP projects and their potential to uplift farming communities.
Several key topics were covered by experts, including Dr. Aman Jyoti Sharma, Agriculture Chemist, Jammu, who highlighted the importance of Mini/Village-level Soil Testing Labs and the judicious use of chemical fertilizers for better crop production; Shri Rajesh Verma, Assistant Entomologist, who discussed HADP Project No. 6 - Promotion of Apiculture, emphasizing the economic potential of beekeeping and honey production; and Shri Kewal Sharma, SMS-III, who spoke on the potential of Mushroom Cultivation as a profitable agricultural venture for farmers and Ex-Servicemen.
In his address, S. Arvinder Singh Reen, Director Agriculture Jammu, spoke on the various benefits of the HADP programme and how it is transforming the lives of farmers. He also emphasized the advantages of protected cultivation under hi-tech polyhouses, which can enhance crop yield and quality, and the growing significance of millets as a nutritious and resilient crop, mentioning the potential for millet mills to support value addition and local processing. Additionally, he highlighted the availability of training for Ex-Servicemen through the Daksh Kisan Portal, ensuring that they receive the necessary resources and skills for successful agricultural ventures. He encouraged Ex-Servicemen to join the programme, assuring them that the Agriculture Department would offer necessary training and capacity-building programmes to equip them with the skills required for successful farming ventures.
Maj Gen Goverdhan Singh Jamwal, expressed his support for the HADP initiative and encouraged all Ex-Servicemen to join the programme. He highlighted the significant benefits of the programme in improving income levels and fostering self-sufficiency. Maj Gen Jamwal also invited the youth of Ex-Servicemen's families to participate in the HADP projects, emphasizing the importance of agriculture in building a sustainable future.
The event concluded with a call to action for Ex-Servicemen to take advantage of the numerous opportunities offered by the HADP, ensuring a brighter future for both themselves and their families through active participation in agricultural development. |
