Minister Javid Dar Boosts Kathua’s Agri-Infrastructure with New Pesticide Lab and Wool Facilitation Centre

KATHUA, February 25, 2026 — In a major stride toward agricultural modernization and livestock safety, Javid Ahmad Dar, Minister for Agriculture Production, Rural Development, and Panchayati Raj, inaugurated two key facilities in Kathua today. The Minister opened a state-of-the-art Pesticide Testing Laboratory, built at a cost of ₹481.25 lakh under NABARD funding, marking it as only the third such facility in the Union Territory.

This laboratory is designed to act as a critical gatekeeper for crop safety, enabling officials to detect spurious pesticides and verify chemical compositions to protect farmers from substandard inputs.

Simultaneously, the Minister inaugurated a Common Facilitation Centre (CFC) for Wool, aimed at tapping into the district’s vast potential of over five lakh sheep and goats by providing value-addition services and better market linkages for local rearers.

During his extensive tour, Minister Dar also inspected the Fish and Poultry Feed Plant and the Lakhanpur Rinderpest Checkpost, where he issued a high-alert directive for strict surveillance. He emphasized that there must be “zero compromise” on the health parameters of livestock and poultry entering Jammu and Kashmir from outside borders.

To prevent the transmission of diseases, he ordered thorough clinical checks of all birds and cattle at the entry point. The Minister also interacted with local farmers to address their grievances on the spot and directed officials to submit a damage assessment report for buildings affected by recent floods.

This dual focus on infrastructure and biosecurity reflects the government’s commitment to scientific planning and safeguarding the rural economy of the Union Territory.