Union Minister for Agriculture, Farmers’ Welfare, and Rural Development, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, will visit Jammu and Kashmir on July 3 and 4. The visit is aimed at reinforcing the Centre’s initiatives in agriculture, natural farming, and rural development in the Union Territory. It will also focus on enhancing academic partnerships and engaging directly with farming communities and rural stakeholders
On July 3, Chouhan will hold a high-level review meeting at the Civil Secretariat in Srinagar. The focus will be on assessing the progress of central schemes and strategies for expanding sustainable farming practices in the region.
In the afternoon, the Minister will attend a meeting of the Consultative Committee of the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare. Key topics on the agenda include the promotion of natural farming methods and the implementation of the National Oilseeds Mission, both critical to the government’s long-term goals for agricultural sustainability and self-reliance.
Later in the evening, a courtesy meeting will be hosted in Chouhan’s honour by the Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, Manoj Sinha, at the Raj Bhavan in Srinagar.
On July 4, the Union Minister will serve as the chief guest at the sixth convocation ceremony of Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST-K). The event will take place at the university’s Shalimar Convention Centre. Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, who also serves as the Chancellor of SKUAST-K, and Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who is the Pro-Chancellor, will also attend.
During the ceremony, degrees will be awarded to 5,250 students, including undergraduates, postgraduates, and PhD scholars. The convocation will also honour 150 gold medalists and 445 students receiving merit certificates for outstanding academic performance.
Following the convocation, Chouhan will visit saffron and apple orchards at the SKUAST-K campus, where he will interact with horticulture scientists and local farmers to understand region-specific challenges and innovations. Later, in Khonmoh village, the Minister will meet with ‘Lakhpati Didis’—women who have become symbols of empowerment and rural economic success under various self-help and livelihood initiatives.