New Delhi, May 31: A landmark four-day preliminary workshop on the Competitiveness Improvement of Agriculture & Allied Sectors Project (JKCIP), supported by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), concluded today at the United Nations Office, Lodhi Road, New Delhi. Held from 27th to 30th May 2025, the workshop brought together key stakeholders working to transform the agricultural and rural landscape of Jammu & Kashmir.
The event was chaired by the Secretary, Agriculture Production Department and Mission Director of HADP and JKCIP Shri Sandeep Kumar (IFS) and was graced by the virtual presence of Mr. James Mark de Sousa, Country Director, IFAD. Ms. Mira Mishra, IFAD Country Coordinator, led the sessions and facilitated rich discussions on the project’s strategies and implementation roadmap.
JKCIP is the first-of-its-kind initiative in the region with a dedicated focus on empowering women, engaging youth, and supporting vulnerable communities across 90 blocks of Jammu & Kashmir. Launched in June 2024 by the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi, the project is set to touch over 3 lakh lives in the next seven years through climate-resilient agriculture, enterprise development, and institutional strengthening.
The workshop featured two focused technical batches:
Batch I: (27–28 May): Climate-Smart and Market-Led Production
Batch II: (29–30 May): Agribusiness Ecosystem Development and Support to Vulnerable Communities
Senior officials and experts from SKUAST-Kashmir, SKUAST-Jammu, and various directorates under the Agriculture Production Department participated both in person and virtually, ensuring cross-sectoral collaboration and alignment. A third technical session on Financial Management and Procurement is scheduled for 5–6 June 2025.
This workshop marks a major step forward in building shared vision, strengthening institutional capacities, and accelerating inclusive agricultural growth in Jammu & Kashmir.
