In a big thrust to sustainable agriculture in the Union Territory, Jammu and Kashmir has approved a five-year project on "Innovative Extension Approaches for Revitalizing Agriculture in the valley".

The project, worth Rs 463 crore, is aimed at empowering farmers and educated youth through technology driven and inclusive agri-extension services.

One of the critical outcomes of the project would be creation of 2,000 Kissan Khidmat Ghars (KKGs), which will serve as a One Stop Center for extending farmer- oriented services, reported Greater Kashmir.

Atal Dulloo, Additional Chief Secretary, Agriculture Production Department., said, "The extension system in Jammu and Kashmir faces many challenges, including serving a large clientele with structural complexity and functional diversity. Currently, there is a significant gap between extension workers and farmers, with a ratio of 1:1100 and contact intensity of one hour per farmer per year.

"The existing system is also plagued by defects such as lack of realistic base-level information, poor coordination and cohesiveness among the extension players and a low level of public confidence."

The project aims to address these issues by developing a dynamic agri- extension system using IoT-enabled real-time big data for farm-centric planning and resource allocation.

This technology enabled system will form the basis for a proactive agriculture extension system with a cluster approach.

"This approach will use real-time regional analysis of climate and agro-ecology information to promote niche agriculture under given agro-climatic conditions," Dulloo added.

"Innovative Extension Approaches for Revitalizing Agriculture in Jammu and Kashmir" is one among the 29 projects, which were approved by the Jammu and Kashmir administration after being recommended by the UT Level Apex Committee for holistic development of agriculture and allied sectors in UT of J&K.

The project envisages to promote sustainable and profitable agriculture with a significant increase in the share of agricultural GDP.

To achieve this goal, the project will establish 2,000 Panchayat level KKGs, revitalizing the Block-level Extension Advisory Committee and promoting Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) as a hub of convergence of services at the district level.

The project will also establish business orientation centers at SKUAST-Kashmir and Jammu and facilitate real time problem redressal through cyber extension including RS-GIS driven agro-advisories and ICT based virtual contacts and communication systems.

The government expanded the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) to farmers in all 20 districts of Jammu and Kashmir, marking a significant step towards the welfare of farmers.

According to a statement released by an official spokesman, the Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha stated that the programme would offer complete coverage against crop losses caused by natural disasters and unseasonal rains while speaking at the launch event for the extension of PMFBY at Sher-e- Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Jammu (SKUAST-J), according to Krishi Jagran.

"The initiative will stabilize farmers' incomes and motivate them to adopt cutting-edge practices with adequate insurance protection against climatic catastrophe.

"I implore all farmers to take advantage of the PM Fasal Bima Yojna," he said.

The PMFBY, introduced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to protect devoted farmers from the whims of nature, was previously only accessible to farmers in four districts.

According to the LG, the implementation of PMFBY throughout J&K will have a positive impact on the state's agricultural situation and will support the administration's efforts to foster a progressive environment.