Share your story and shine at JK Monitor!🌟 Welcome to JK Monitor, where every story matters and every achievement is celebrated! We invite you to share the remarkable journey of your life and showcase your accomplishments to the world. Join our exclusive interviews that honor exceptional individuals just like you. JAMMU: Hon’ble MLA Jammu North, Shri Sham Lal Sharma, today formally launched the month-long Khet Bachao Abhiyan at Village Purkhoo in Sub-Division Marh during a farmers awareness programme organized by the Department of Agriculture Production & Farmers Welfare, Jammu.
The programme was attended by Joint Director Agriculture (Farms/SLUB), Shri Aman Jyoti Sharma; District Agriculture Officer Jammu, Shri Vinod Khajuria; SMS (DL), Shri Sham Khajuria; and Sub-Divisional Agriculture Officer (SDAO) Marh, Shri Khalid Hassan Tantray, along with officers and field functionaries of the department.
More than 300 farmers, members of Youth Clubs under JKCIP, NATS Krishi Veers, Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), and Self-Help Groups (SHGs) participated enthusiastically in the campaign. Prominent youth clubs, including Baba Birfa Nath Youth Club Kanger, Ganpati Youth Club Ghainik, Eco Warrior Youth Club Purkhoo, and Jai Shiv Shanker Youth Club Bhalwal, actively participated in the programme.
Addressing the gathering, Shri Sham Lal Sharma emphasized that youth are the future of the nation and have a pivotal role in transforming the agricultural sector. He appreciated the youth clubs being promoted and supported by the Agriculture Department Jammu and called upon them to actively visit villages and create awareness among farmers regarding modern, scientific, and sustainable agricultural practices.
He stressed that the “Khet Bachao Abhiyan” should not remain merely an awareness programme but should evolve into a comprehensive mass movement connecting farms, farmers, and villages. He said that the campaign aims to protect agricultural land, reduce cultivation costs, and ensure timely, need-based technical guidance to farmers through direct field-level interactions.
The MLA further highlighted that minimizing the indiscriminate use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides would be one of the key objectives of the campaign. Farmers would be sensitized about the balanced use of fertilizers and other agricultural inputs based on soil testing. He emphasized that special efforts would be made to motivate farmers to adopt green manures, organic inputs, and bio-products for improving soil health and ensuring long-term agricultural sustainability.
Shri Sham Lal Sharma also emphasized the importance of educating farmers about the benefits of Natural Farming and other sustainable agricultural practices. He further stated that greater area coverage should be achieved under the Mission on Aatmanirbharta in Pulses and the National Mission on Edible Oils in the Jammu region. The campaign would additionally guide farmers on suitable crop options, crop diversification, and climate-resilient farming practices, particularly in areas facing water scarcity and other agricultural challenges, thereby helping them improve productivity, profitability, and sustainability.
Speaking on the occasion, Joint Director Agriculture (Farms/SLUB), Shri Aman Jyoti Sharma, said that the Department of Agriculture is committed to taking scientific and need-based advisory services directly to farmers’ doorsteps. He emphasized that under the Khet Bachao Abhiyan, field officers and extension staff would regularly interact with farmers to create awareness and provide field-specific advisories.
He reiterated that saving farms, improving soil health, and reducing cultivation costs remain the central objectives of the campaign. He further informed that saturation drives under the Kisan Credit Card (KCC) and PM-KISAN schemes would be undertaken to ensure that all eligible farmers are covered and receive benefits under these flagship programmes.
The awareness programme also featured expert lectures and interactive sessions by Shri Naresh Kumar from IFFCO, Shri Ranjeet Kumar, Progressive Farmer, Dr. Nazeon Khan, Horticulture Development Officer, Ms. Deepali Chavi, Young Entrepreneur, Shri Suraj Parkash from Ganpati Youth Club, Ms. Sonam Kotwal, representative of Mission YUVA, NATS Krishi Veers Shri Athrav and Ms. Priyanka and officers from Agriculture Department. The speakers highlighted the importance of scientific farming, judicious and balanced use of fertilizers, entrepreneurship, youth participation, and sustainable agricultural development.
Awareness and display stalls were also set up by Mission YUVA, Self Help Groups (SHGs), Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), and IFFCO, showcasing various agricultural interventions, entrepreneurship opportunities, innovative technologies, and farmer-centric schemes.
The proceedings of the programme were conducted by the officers and staff of Sub-Division Marh. The participants expressed their commitment to supporting the objectives of the Khet Bachao Abhiyan and pledged to work collectively towards sustainable, resilient, and prosperous agriculture in the region.
In loving memory of Dr. Priya Ranjan: A mentor who treated me like family
I will always remember Dr. Priya Ranjan not only as the Chairman of JK Monitor, but as a mentor, guide and elder brother whose kindness shaped my life and work. Write a tribute at In Loving Memory · Dr. Priya Ranjan
When he appointed me Editor-in-Chief of JK Monitor (www.jkmonitor.org), he never made me feel like an employee. He treated me as a younger brother—with warmth, trust and respect. His guidance was generous, his encouragement sincere, and his door was always open whenever I needed help or advice. I will remain deeply grateful for the confidence he placed in me and for all that he taught me.
Dr. Ranjan was a rare and noble human being: kind-hearted, humble and always ready to help. He was also a visionary intellectual whose ideas reached beyond the immediate moment. He brought together deep knowledge, curiosity and a belief in using one’s abilities to make a meaningful difference.
The tributes from his students and colleagues speak of the same qualities I was fortunate to experience myself: a brilliant mind joined with a compassionate heart, and a mentor who made people feel valued. His influence lives on in the people he guided, the work he inspired and the many lives he touched.
For me, he will always be more than a respected chairman or a remarkable intellectual. He will be the elder brother who welcomed me, believed in me and guided me with affection. I will carry his lessons and his kindness with me always. May his soul rest in eternal peace. He will be deeply missed, lovingly remembered and never forgotten.
(Ajmer Alam Wani)
