10/06/2026
Agriculture Production Department organizes “Khet Bachao Abhiyan” at Kathua
Kathua, June 10: The Agriculture Production Department Kathua today organized the flagship awareness campaign “Khet Bachao Abhiyan” with the objective of promoting sustainable agricultural practices, protecting soil health, enhancing farm productivity and encouraging the judicious use of agricultural inputs among the farming community.
Secretary, Agriculture Production and Farmers Welfare Department, J&K, Nitu Gupta, inaugurated the programme as the Chief Guest in the presence of Deputy Commissioner Kathua, Rajesh Sharma. The event witnessed enthusiastic participation from officers of Agriculture and allied departments, scientists from Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), progressive farmers and other stakeholders.
Addressing the gathering, Secretary Agriculture Production and Farmers Welfare Department, Nitu Gupta, underscored the importance of protecting agricultural lands and preserving soil fertility for future generations. She stressed the need for adopting scientific, climate-resilient and resource-efficient farming practices and urged farmers to actively participate in various government initiatives aimed at improving agricultural productivity and sustainability. She also highlighted the government's commitment towards promoting sustainable agriculture through farmer-centric policies and interventions.
Deputy Commissioner Kathua, Rajesh Sharma, emphasized the collective responsibility of all stakeholders towards conservation of natural resources, sustainable agricultural development and ensuring long-term food security. He called upon farmers to make optimum use of departmental schemes, scientific advancements and modern technologies to enhance productivity, improve farm incomes and promote environmentally sustainable farming practices.
During the technical session, Head, Krishi Vigyan Kendra Kathua, Dr. Vishal Mahajan, highlighted the role of scientific interventions and innovative technologies in improving farm productivity and profitability. He stressed the importance of integrated crop management, efficient resource utilization and climate-smart agriculture in addressing emerging challenges in the agriculture sector.
Joint Director, Soil and Land Use Survey and Planning (SLUB), Jammu, Aman Jyoti, elaborated on the objectives and significance of the “Khet Bachao Abhiyan” and called for coordinated efforts by all stakeholders to safeguard soil health and strengthen agricultural ecosystems.
Chief Agriculture Officer Kathua, Jatinder Kumar Khajuria, highlighted the significance of the “Khet Bachao Abhiyan” in ensuring long-term agricultural sustainability. He elaborated on the importance of adopting Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs), balanced and judicious use of fertilizers, integrated disease and pest management, soil health management, crop health monitoring and the adoption of smart agricultural technologies. He also sensitized the participants about the objectives and benefits of the National Mission on Natural Farming and emphasized the need to reduce dependency on chemical inputs while promoting eco-friendly farming systems.
Chief Animal Husbandry Officer Kathua, Dr. Jugal Kishore, apprised the participants of various schemes and initiatives being implemented by the department for the welfare of farmers and promotion of integrated farming systems. He emphasized the importance of livestock-based interventions in strengthening rural livelihoods and enhancing farmers’ income.
An interactive session was also held during which farmers raised queries related to soil health management, crop protection, natural farming and modern agricultural practices. The queries were addressed by experts and scientists, who provided practical guidance and technical inputs.
The participants appreciated the initiative and expressed their commitment towards adopting sustainable, eco-friendly and climate-resilient farming practices.
District Agriculture Officer (Extension), Kathua, Raj Singh, presented the vote of thanks.
