JAMMU, 2 July 2025: Union Minister for Agriculture, Farmers’ Welfare, and Rural Development Shivraj Singh Chouhan will embark on a two-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir on July 3 and 4, aiming to strengthen the Centre’s agriculture, natural farming, and rural empowerment initiatives in the Union Territory.
On July 3, Chouhan will chair a high-level review meeting at the Civil Secretariat in Srinagar to assess the progress of centrally sponsored schemes and explore strategies for scaling up sustainable and climate-resilient farming methods in the region.
Later the same day, he is scheduled to attend a meeting of the Consultative Committee of the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, where discussions will revolve around promoting natural farming practices and accelerating the National Oilseeds Mission to enhance self-reliance in edible oils.
In the evening, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha will host a courtesy meeting in the Minister’s honour at Raj Bhavan, Srinagar.
On July 4, Chouhan will serve as chief guest at the sixth convocation ceremony of Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST-K) at its Shalimar Convention Centre. Over 5,250 students will receive degrees, with 150 gold medals and 445 merit certificates to be awarded for academic excellence. The event will also be attended by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, who is the Chancellor of SKUAST-K, and Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, the Pro-Chancellor.
Following the convocation, Chouhan will visit saffron and apple orchards at the SKUAST-K campus, interacting with horticulture scientists and local farmers to discuss region-specific challenges and innovation opportunities. Later, the Minister will travel to Khonmoh village to meet ‘Lakhpati Didis’—women beneficiaries of rural livelihood programs who have achieved significant economic progress through self-help groups.
