SHOPIAN: Neeraj Kumar Prajapati, fondly known as the "Bicycle Man of India," on his maiden visit to Shopian District to promote awareness about various agriculture schemes, particularly the Holistic Agriculture Development Programme (HADP) today called upon District Development Commissioner, Shopian, Mohammad Shahid Saleem Dar.
DDC Shopian welcomed him and facilitated discussions on the district's developmental achievements in agriculture and the path to sustainable development of agriculture sector in the district. His visit is aimed to educate the public on modern agricultural practices and government initiatives in order to inspire farmers and stakeholders to adopt innovative approaches for sustainable farming.
Neeraj commended the district's efforts, highlighting its exemplary role in modern agricultural practices and the efficient implementation of government schemes. Over the two-day visit, Neeraj interacted with farmers and residents across the district, raising awareness about benefits of modern agricultural techniques, sustainable practices like soil health management and integrated farming systems, accessibility and utility of schemes like HADP for enhancing agricultural productivity, etc.
Neeraj's visit underscored the transformational journey of Shopian’s agriculture sector. Key achievements noted during his tour included successful adoption of protected cultivation, enabling farmers to grow vegetables year-round, establishment of efficient soil testing facilities, empowering farmers with precise knowledge of soil health and fertility, promotion of mushroom cultivation, creating avenues for income diversification and operation of custom hiring centers, providing farmers with access to advanced machinery at affordable rates.