Kathua, Dec 02: A grand District Mega Kisan Mela was inaugurated on Tuesday at Ghatti, Kathua by Minister for Agriculture Production, Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, Cooperatives, and Election Department, Javid Ahmed Dar.
The event saw massive participation from farmers, agriculture experts, and scientists from SKUAST, transforming it into a vibrant hub of knowledge sharing, technological demonstrations, and farmer–scientist interactions.
In his inaugural address, Javid Dar praised the Agriculture Department for uniting diverse stakeholders of the farming sector. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to empowering farmers through innovation, technology adoption, and farmer-friendly policies.
The Minister directed officials to organize village-level awareness camps to disseminate information about agricultural and allied sector schemes. He also urged farmers to shift from primary to secondary agriculture, connecting with direct marketing channels for better prices.
Earlier, the Minister laid the foundation stone for strengthening the Goat Farm at Rajbagh, a project valued at ₹349.94 lakh, aimed at enhancing livestock infrastructure and improving farmers’ livelihoods.
The Chief Agriculture Officer, Kathua, briefed attendees on district achievements, departmental schemes, success stories of progressive farmers, precision farming initiatives, and efforts to improve soil health, productivity, and market linkages.
Guest of Honour, MLA Jasrota, Rajiv Jasrotia, emphasized bridging the gap between scientific advancements and ground-level adoption. He encouraged farmers to embrace modern farming technologies to boost income.
The event was attended by Deputy Commissioner Kathua, Rajesh Sharma; Director Agriculture Jammu, Anil Gupta; HoDs of allied departments, and DDC representatives.
The Mela featured stalls showcasing modern machinery, improved seed varieties, integrated farming models, organic and natural farming technologies, and departmental initiatives aimed at doubling farmers’ income. Live demonstrations and technical sessions by SKUAST scientists provided practical solutions for farmers’ challenges.
