Nishikant Khajuria
KATHUA, Jan 28: Boasting that Jammu and Kashmir is fast emerging as Agri StartUp hub, Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh today called upon local youth to join the ecosystem for realizing the national goal of making India number one economy in next 25 years.
“Contribution of Himalayan States is crucial to India of 2047 and role of Jammu Kashmir pioneered purple revolution will be of critical importance as the areas which are either unexplored or under-explored hold potential of making value addition to the economy,” he said while addressing a Kisan Sammelan by CSIR-IIIM at Hiranagar, here today.
Sharing the success story of lavender farming in Jammu region, the Minister informed that more than three thousand youth of J&K are engaged in this mission which has emerged as an avenue of self-employment as these youngster are earning in lakhs.
“Gone are the days when only IIT Graduates and IT professional were considered to be eligible for StartUps. Our Government and youngsters have changed this mindset with the result that Jammu Kashmir is fast emerging as Agri StartUp hub,” he said.
Dr Jitendra Singh stressed that the Republic Day tableau at the national capital depicting lavender farms of Bhaderwah was a testimony of J&K being nationally hailed as the birthplace of “Purple Revolution” which is now being emulated in other Himalayan States like Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh as well as Nagaland.
He explained that the foundation of this Agri StartUp hub has been laid in the picturesque Bhaderwah town of district Doda where cultivation of lavender has been taken up on a large scale and carried out as part of Aroma Mission by Ministry of Science & Technology, Govt of India. Click here to watch video
“This endeavour provides India an alternate source to propel its economy and over 3000 flourishing lavender entrepreneurs from Bhaderwah have shown the youth of India a new and lucrative avenue of StartUp through agriculture which is an exclusive domain of this country and will contribute value addition to India’s future economic growth and realisation of PM Narendra Modi’s vision of ” Viksit Bharat” by 2047, he said.
Dr Jitendra Singh underscored that this has been achieved due to the personal efforts of Prime Minister Modi, and the Government’s measures to provide all possible support, be it imparting training to the youth or ensuring industry linkages for lavender products or provision of other necessary logistical aid, to spur this revolution. Lavender-made products are sold in thousands in States like Maharashtra, fetching rich revenue for the producers, he informed.
Calling for action, Dr Jitendra Singh said the areas which are either unexplored or under-explored hold the potential of making value addition to the economy, adding that the role of Jammu and Kashmir- pioneered purple revolution will be of critical importance to make India a developed nation by 2047.
Later, replying to a query by media persons about the measures taken for the safety and security of residents of border areas in Jammu and Kashmir, especially Kathua, the Union Minister informed that bunkers have been constructed for them so that they can take shelter from firing from across the border.
“Earlier, these residents were left to fend for themselves and they would take shelter either in their relatives’ places or in the Panchayats. Similarly, road connectivity has been improved up to zero line and reservation provided to border residents along IB,” Dr Jitendra Singh said.
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