Early Times Report
Jammu, June 17: Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Jammu (SKUAST-Jammu), in collaboration with the Agriculture Production and Farmers Welfare Department, Government of Jammu and Kashmir, inaugurated a five-day Capacity Building Programme for FPO Development Officers posted in various districts of the Jammu region.
The programme is being conducted under the ambit of the Competitiveness Improvement of Agriculture and Allied Sectors Project (JKCIP), which is being implemented by SKUAST-Jammu. The inaugural session was held under the chairmanship of Prof. B.N. Tripathi, Hon’ble Vice Chancellor, SKUAST-Jammu.
Addressing the participants, Dr. Anil Kumar, Dean, Faculty of Agriculture, SKUAST-Jammu, highlighted the need to integrate modern extension approaches with grassroots-level challenges to ensure that the benefits of government schemes reach small and marginal farmers effectively. He informed that the programme marks a significant step toward empowering Farmer Producer Organisations with enhanced leadership, managerial, and technical capabilities, thereby contributing to the broader objective of transforming Jammu & Kashmir’s agri-based economy. Dr. Sudhakar Dwivedi, Dean Student Welfare, commended the efforts of FPO Development Officers in building the institutional base of farmer collectives and advised them to remain committed to the inclusive growth of farming communities.
The programme specifically targets capacity building for officers working under the component of Upscaling Collectivization, which involves the formation of new FPOs in selected blocks of Jammu region and the strengthening of existing FPOs formed under the Central Sector Scheme (CSS) for Formation and Promotion of 10,000 FPOs.
Dr. Pawan Kumar Sharma, Nodal Officer/Principal Investigator of the project, welcomed the participants and briefed the gathering on the objectives and modules of the capacity-building programme. He also extended his gratitude to Sh. Sandeep Kumar, Mission Director, JKCIP, Government of J&K, for his continuous support in the implementation of this initiative. Dr. Sharma highlighted strategies to aggregate untouched farmers through the formation of Farmer Interest Groups (FIGs) and their inclusion in the FPO ecosystem.
The inaugural session concluded with a vote of thanks presented by Dr. Anil Bhat, Associate Director Research, SKUAST-Jammu, acknowledging the contributions of dignitaries, participants and all stakeholders involved in making the programme a success. Proceedings of the programme were conducted by Ms. MaganDeep Kour, Young Professional. |
