Govt formulating plan to bring people from Iran safely
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 5: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today said his Government is coordinating with the Centre to ensure safety of the residents of Jammu and Kashmir in war-hit Iran and formulating a programme to bring them home safely. He appealed to the people to maintain calm in view of emerging situation post US-Israel attacks on Iran.
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Speaking to reporters after addressing a function at Sher-i-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST)-Jammu, Omar, who met religious leaders and Civil Society members in Srinagar yesterday, said the elements trying to disturb atmosphere in Jammu and Kashmir (in view of ongoing war) shouldn’t be allowed to take advantage of the situation.
“Our Government is coordinating with the Centre to ensure the safety of Jammu and Kashmir residents in Iran. The Government is working to formulate a programme to bring them home safely,” the Chief Minister said and appealed for calm amid the evolving situation.
Voicing concern over sinking of an Iranian warship, he said the vessel and its crew were guests of India for a multilateral Naval exercise and this has caused anxiety in Jammu and Kashmir as many people from the Union Territory, including students, are currently in Iran.
“It is unfortunate that an attack was carried out on the Iranian warship. They were our guests and had come here for a naval exercise. While returning, it was attacked. In some way, our country is also being dragged into this situation. What will happen in the future is beyond my jurisdiction,” he said.
In response to a question on Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar filing nomination papers for Rajya Sabha which will vacate the top post in the State, Omar described it as an internal matter of the allies there but mentioned Kumar’s past association with INDIA block. He also extended his best wishes for Kumar’s nomination to the Rajya Sabha.
Responding to another question on general elections in India’s neighbouring country Nepal, the first after Gen-Z revolt there leading tom fall of KP Sharma Oli-led Government last year, Omar said the elections are essential for functioning of a democracy.
Commenting on the general elections in Nepal, held following the fall of the K P Sharma Oli-led Government last year, Abdullah said the polls are essential for the functioning of a democracy.
“As I have read in newspapers, a new leader has emerged there. Let us see what decision the people of Nepal take,” he added.
The Chief Minister also highlighted the Government’s focus on promoting entrepreneurship and innovation in agriculture. He said that under flagship programmes like Mission Yuva, the Government is working to develop a startup culture, noting that substantial funding has started flowing into educational institutions for these initiatives.
Meanwhile, Omar highlighted the immense potential of agriculture and allied sectors in Jammu and Kashmir and urged the youth to transition from being job seekers to job creators by harnessing innovation and entrepreneurship in the sector.
Addressing a Startup Outreach Programme under JKCIP at SKUAST-Jammu, he said initiatives such as the Jammu and Kashmir Competitiveness Improvement of Agriculture and Allied Sectors Project (JKCIP) are playing a crucial role in nurturing a vibrant startup ecosystem and promoting innovation-driven enterprises in the Union Territory.
Highlighting the limitations of Government employment, Omar told students that not everyone could secure Government jobs.
“If I stand up and say that every one of you will get a Government job within a year, I will prove myself wrong. The truth is that all of you cannot get Government jobs. Some will, but many will not. So what will the rest do?” he asked.
“The youth must transition from being job seekers to job creators by harnessing innovation and entrepreneurship in agriculture and allied sectors in Jammu and Kashmir,” he said.
Explaining the region’s economic realities, Omar said Jammu and Kashmir must build industries based on its existing strengths as it lacks natural resources such as coal, iron ore or oil that support heavy industries elsewhere.
“If we had coal under the ground or iron ore or oil like some other regions, perhaps we could have set up big factories here. But that is not our reality. We will have to build industries based on what we already have,” he said, stressing that agriculture and allied activities offer the most viable path for sustainable economic growth.
Emphasising the vast scope of agriculture, the Chief Minister said that when deciding which industries should be established in the region, agriculture offers the greatest potential for success.
“There is a misconception that Jammu and Kashmir’s economy is driven solely by tourism. When I tell people that in our SGDP agriculture and horticulture are equally significant along with tourism, they are surprised. They have no idea how strong our agricultural ecosystem is,” he said.
He added that agriculture and allied sectors such as horticulture, fisheries and apiculture together form a vast economic network and offer significant opportunities for young entrepreneurs.
Omar observed that traditional agricultural practices alone may not be sufficient to sustain livelihoods and called for a shift towards value addition and modern agricultural entrepreneurship.
“There was a time when our youth were deeply connected with traditional farming, but gradually their focus shifted away because agriculture appeared uncertain due to weather disruptions and market challenges,” he said.
The Chief Minister noted that programmes such as the Holistic Agriculture Development Programme (HADP), JKCIP and Mission YUVA have been designed to transform agriculture into a modern, value-added and technology-driven sector.
“The land that we have will remain limited and agricultural land is shrinking compared to what existed twenty or thirty years ago. The question is how we keep agriculture viable. The answer lies in value addition, innovation and entrepreneurship,” he said.
Referring to dairy production, Omar highlighted the immense scope for value addition in the sector. “In Jammu and Kashmir, we process only about six to seven per cent of the milk we produce. Compare that with Gujarat, where nearly 93 per cent of milk undergoes processing and value addition. When you convert milk into products like paneer or khoya, you increase its value manifold,” he said.
On the occasion, the Chief Minister released four publications and felicitated two Startups and two Farmers’ Producer Organisations for their achievements. He also launched 808 new Kisan Khidmat Ghars (KKGs) aimed at strengthening grassroots-level agricultural services across Jammu and Kashmir.
Earlier, the Chief Minister inspected an exhibition set up within the university premises, where he interacted with students, young entrepreneurs and representatives of Farmers’ Producer Organisations, appreciating their innovative ideas and encouraging them to transform agriculture into a modern, enterprise-driven sector.
The programme witnessed participation from Minister for Agriculture Javid Ahmed Dar, Advisor to the Chief Minister Nasir Aslam Wani, Vice Chancellor SKUAST-Jammu Dr. B. N. Tripathi, Mission Director Holistic Agriculture Development Programme (HADP) Sandeep Kumar, Director Research SKUAST-Jammu Dr. S. K. Gupta and Registrar & Dean Faculty of Agriculture Dr. Amit Kumar. The event was also attended by university faculty and staff, entrepreneurs, industrialists, startup founders and students from several colleges across the Jammu division.
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