Jammu: The Jammu & Kashmir has initiated its pre-budget exercise for 2026–27, with Additional Chief Secretary (ACS), Agriculture Production Department (APD), Shailendra Kumar chairing a detailed review meeting on budget requirements and revised estimates for the Agriculture and Horticulture sectors.
The session focused on evaluating Revised Estimates (RE) 2025–26 and formulating Budget Estimates (BE) 2026–27, covering key components under CAPEX, HADP, SASCI, CSS, and NABARD.
The meeting was attended by senior APD officials including the Secretary APD, Director Finance, Director Planning, MD JKAGROS, Secretary Kisan Advisory Board, Directors of Agriculture, Horticulture, CAD, and Sericulture, representatives of SKUAST-J and SKUAST-K, scientists, Joint Directors of allied departments, and district-level officers. Officers from the Kashmir Division joined virtually.
ACS Shailendra Kumar emphasised that budget planning under HADP, CSS, and CAPEX must align with long-term infrastructure development goals for the agriculture and horticulture sectors.
He reviewed major CSS components under Krishonnati Yojana, including flagship schemes like PMKSY, PDMC, SMAM, RAD, RKVY, PKVY, ATMA, and NFSM, stressing their role in strengthening rural prosperity and farm sustainability.
In line with Supreme Court directions, the ACS directed all departments to integrate stray animal management awareness into every extension activity. He instructed that no stray animals should be seen within office premises and ordered the appointment of Nodal Officers in every department to monitor compliance.
Reviewing the PDMC component, the ACS called for strengthening micro-irrigation initiatives and increasing farmer awareness about available facilities and subsidies. He said benefits must reach farmers with adequate water availability to maximise irrigation expansion.
Kumar directed that Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) be circulated across departments to ensure no work is executed outside approved project guidelines. All wings were told to submit Utilization Certificates (UCs) promptly, with financial achievements to be reported within one month.
The ACS also reviewed progress under JKCIP, identified existing bottlenecks, and instructed that year-wise targets be communicated to all Chief Officers for smooth and timely implementation.
The meeting concluded with a call for greater coordination across all wings of the Agriculture Production Department to ensure efficient budgeting, timely execution of projects, and stronger farmer-centric service delivery.
