Director Agriculture Jammu Reviews Schemes and Boosts Agri-Entrepreneurship in Poonch Tour
POONCH, JUNE 08: Director Agriculture Jammu, Anil Gupta, concluded a comprehensive two-day tour of District Poonch today to evaluate ongoing developmental activities, assess scheme progress, and directly engage with local farmers and field functionaries. Accompanied by Chief Agriculture Officer Jograj Singh Salathia, the Director kicked off his visit by attending the Vibrant Villages Programme at Nangali Sahib before chairing a high-level review meeting at the Chief Agriculture Officer’s headquarters. During the briefing, Gupta analyzed the physical and financial milestones achieved under various departmental programs, urging officials to ensure the timely execution of targets, optimize resource utilization, and intensify field monitoring to maximize the outreach of government welfare schemes to the grassroots farming community.
Transitioning to Sub-Division Surankote on the second day, the Director inspected advanced agricultural infrastructure and spearheaded farmer awareness initiatives. He visited the successful hi-tech polyhouses of local farmers Farhad Choudhary in Madana and Tariq Mehmood in Samote Potha, praising their adoption of protected cultivation technologies to enhance crop quality and boost farm incomes. While leading an interactive session under the Khet Bachao Abhiyan at Samote, Gupta gathered direct feedback from farmers on agricultural challenges, emphasizing the critical importance of soil health management, balanced fertilizer use, and climate-resilient practices. Furthermore, he inspected the newly established Soil Testing Laboratory at Surankote, directing staff to expedite sample analysis to provide farmers with scientific nutrient recommendations. Concluding his tour, the Director visited Kisan Khidmat Ghars (KKGs) in Lower and Upper Surankote to ensure they are functioning effectively as grassroots service hubs, and lauded Krishi Udyami Rabia Manhas for her entrepreneurial drive, encouraging more rural youth to leverage government incentives to modernize the region’s agricultural sector.