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Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- General
- Hindustan Times
In a first, change brews with tea gardens in Kathua's Billawar
Taking a leaf out of the Kangra tea gardens in Himachal Pradesh's Palampur, the agriculture department of Jammu and Kashmir has initiated a tea plantation drive in the hilly Billawar tehsil of Kathua district. Taking a leaf out of the Kangra tea gardens in Himachal Pradesh's Palampur, the agriculture department of Jammu and Kashmir has initiated a tea plantation drive in the hilly Billawar tehsil of Kathua district. (HT Photo) The initiative is being seen as a landmark step towards diversification from the maize-wheat cycle as the region's temperate climate and altitude of 5,000 feet is suitable for the cash crop. 'The region's climate and soil conditions, particularly across the Shivalik range, are akin to Palampur for tea cultivation. More than 20,000 tea saplings have been sourced from Palampur and planted in Billawar by over 500 farmers. Though we have done it on an experimental basis, we are confident of fruitful results. The crop will be ready in a year and a half,' says sub divisional agriculture officer Ravi Sharma. 'If this pilot project proves to be successful, more such plantation drives will be taken up across the region. The aim is to make villagers here self-reliant,' he said. Billawar MLA Satish Sharma, who inaugurated the plantation drive recently, had raised the issue of cultivating tea in Billawar during the budget session in the Jammu and Kashmir assembly in March given the conducive climate and soil conditions though the region gets less rain than Palampur. 'Subsequently, the director of the agriculture department got in touch with the agricultural university in Palampur and we roped in more than 500 farmers in Billawar, where three clusters have been set up,' the agriculture officer said. Assuring growers of round-the-clock support from the department, he urged them to stay updated and avail benefits of departmental schemes and technical services. 'The yield can be processed here itself. We will definitely increase the area under tea cultivation next year,' he said. Additional deputy commissioner Vinay Khosla termed the initiative path-breaking. He urged young farmers to become active stakeholders in such projects and said the government was committed to rural transformation under the Mission Yuva campaign. Palampur tea, popularly known as Kangra tea, is known for its delicate flavour, fruity aroma, and tinge of honey-like sweetness. The drive was inaugurated on July 24. Local farmers have adopted the tea plantation as they anticipate higher income compared to wheat and maize. 'We adopted tea plantation because the climatic conditions in Billawar are similar to Palampur. For lesser rains, we have installed drip system wherein water droplets keep irrigating the saplings,' said Lokesh Sumbria, one of the farmers, who has adopted tea plantation. Sumbria has planted 250 saplings on his farm at Kishanpur Billawar. 'There is a positive response to the initiative by agriculture department. We have been cultivating wheat and maize but farmers should also try something new,' he added. Another farmer Rakesh Kumar said that tea was a favourite beverage across India and that's why tea estates have been thriving in north-east and Himachal Pradesh. 'We are confident of getting fruitful results and who knows that J&K also become a major producer of tea leafs in the times to come and change socio economics condition of farmers here,'he added.
United News of India
26-05-2025
- Politics
- United News of India
J&K CM Omar Abdullah calls for data-driven planning
Srinagar, May 26 (UNI) Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday called for data-driven planning to guide the Union Territory towards the long-term goal of Viksit J & K by 2047. He underlined the importance of setting short-term, district-level goals rooted in data analysis and tailored to the specific needs and potential of each region. He stated this while chairing a comprehensive review meeting of the Planning, Development & Monitoring Department at the Civil Secretariat, where detailed presentations were made on three critical initiatives — the Sustainable Development Goals Coordination Centre (SDGCC), District Domestic Product (DDP), and the District Good Governance Index (DGGI). 'What we now require is targeted district-level planning — identifying where the potential lies and where gaps need to be filled. These short-term objectives will cumulatively guide us toward our long-term goal of Viksit Jammu & Kashmir by 2047,' he said. He cautioned against focusing solely on the distant 2047 horizon, emphasising the need to set medium- and short-term benchmarks that allow for real-time performance tracking and corrective action. The Chief Minister welcomed the data presented during the meeting, especially insights from Mission Yuva, and called for its integration into sectoral planning across departments. Referring to Mission Yuva and the DGGI reports, the Chief Minister stressed the importance of using this data constructively. 'These findings must improve our planning and programmes. I urge all line departments and district administrations to reorient their schemes in a manner that addresses the issues highlighted by both data sets,' he said. He said that the District Good Governance Index should not be perceived as a ranking of 'good versus bad' governance, but as a barometer of 'good to better' governance. 'Districts that have shown strong performance must continue to lead by example, while those that lag must be supported to identify structural gaps and implement reforms. Any such systemic constraints should be immediately brought to the Secretariat's attention for resolution,' he added. Touching upon Jammu & Kashmir's performance in national rankings, the Chief Minister shared a balanced view. 'While we are currently ranked second among Union Territories, that comparison is limited given the nature of UTs. What is more important — and encouraging — is our 10th place rank nationally. That shows we're holding our ground, but we must do better,' he remarked. Abdullah expressed gratitude to NITI Aayog and UNDP for their sustained technical support. The Chief Minister reiterated the importance of focused and data-backed governance. 'Let us approach our goals step by step — start with targeted short-term interventions at the district level, scale up to territory-wide strategies, and ultimately work towards the overarching vision of Viksit Jammu & Kashmir 2047,' he added. UNI MJR SSP
