Srinagar, Nov 18: The Agriculture Production Department Jammu and Kashmir has started a two-month-long orientation programme 'Yuva Vani: Empowering J&K Youth through Entrepreneurship in Agriculture'.

Director Agriculture Kashmir, Chowdhary Muhammad Iqbal said they have started the two-month-long orientation programme in all the villages and Panchayats under the banner of Yuva Vani for the youth.

“The programme is committed to reaching every corner of J&K, starting at the block levels. We believe in the power of community and aim to empower youth at the grassroots level,” he said.

The director said that unemployed youth from 18-35 years will be informed about the different schemes of agriculture like KCC, Soil Health Card, Centrally Sponsored Schemes and the schemes that are included in the Holistic Agriculture Development Program (HADP). The youth will also be informed about the Interest Subvention Scheme.

Iqbal said that once the youth are informed about the schemes they would be encouraged to take part in entrepreneurship to create job opportunities. “They would be able to not only create jobs for themselves but also for others which would help to push the economy and it would provide a platform for others,” he said.

The director said the programme also aims to take the Holistic Agriculture Development Program (HADP) to the youth. The HADP is a dynamic collection of twenty-nine projects that cover every aspect of Agriculture, from Horticulture to Crop and Livestock Husbandry.

 “These projects are aimed at transforming the agricultural economy of J&K and unlocking the exciting potential of the region. It will help people to take the agricultural pursuits to the next level, promoting sustainability and commercial viability,” he said.

Iqbal said youth should discover the untapped potential in agriculture and learn about the exciting entrepreneurship opportunities provided by the Agriculture Production Department and they can be a driving force in the agri-business landscape.

No youth would be left unattended during the programme, he said, adding that lectures will be organised in schools and colleges so that youth take up agriculture as an enterprise. “We will connect like-minded individuals, experts, and mentors who share their passion for agriculture and pave the way for collaborative ventures and innovative projects,” he added.

Notably, Iqbal said last year the Jammu and Kashmir Government started HADP and one of its components was Kissan Sampark Abhiyan.

“The Kissan Sampark Abhiyan was held in all the 4000 Panchayats in J&K to connect the youth with the agriculture sector and it was followed by its second phase. This event is also held keeping in mind that programme,” he said.