Excelsior Correspondent
KISHTWAR, Nov 19: Joint Secretary, Union Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI), Preet Pal Singh, who is also Central Nodal Officer for the Pradhan Mantri District Development and Kisan Yojana (PM-DDKY) for district Kishtwar, chaired a detailed review meeting here today to assess the progress of the district’s PM-DDKY plan formulation.
The Joint Secretary is on his five-day visit to Kishtwar, during which he will undertake multiple field visits across agriculture and allied sector clusters, interacting directly with farmers, entrepreneurs, and project stakeholders.
During the review meeting, the Joint Secretary examined preparatory activities, including baseline data collection, identification of potential crop clusters, existing and proposed food-processing units, infrastructure gaps, and stakeholder consultations. He emphasized on participatory and convergence-oriented approach to ensure the plan reflects ground realities and meets beneficiary needs.
Highlighting Kishtwar’s unique agro-climatic advantages and high-value crops like saffron, walnuts, rajma, and medicinal plants, the Central Nodal Officer stressed the importance of developing robust processing and value-chain infrastructure.
The Joint Secretary directed departments to support Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), micro-enterprises, technology integration for post-harvest management, and enhanced market linkages.
Various departments provided updates on progress and challenges in plan preparation. He advised timely submission of pending components while maintaining accuracy and transparency in data inputs. He reiterated that the PM-DDKY plan should prioritize sustainable agriculture, employment generation, food-processing growth, and region-specific development goals.
During the meeting, Deputy Commissioner Kishtwar, Pankaj Kumar Sharma presented a detailed profile of district.
ACR Kishtwar Idrees Lone; ACD Kishtwar Musharaf Ali; CAO Kishtwar Kushal Chandel; CHO Kishtwar Sajid Mustafa; ExEn Jal Shakti Kishtwar Sanjeev Kumar Gupta; DSHO Kishtwar, LDM Kishtwar, technical experts, stakeholders from agriculture and allied sectors, and representatives of implementing agencies also attended the meeting.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
