Srinagar, Apr 16 (KNS); Without women farmers, every plate would be empty and humanity would be starved, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha said on Thursday, asserting that their strength anchors global food security and plants seeds of prosperity for families and society.
Addressing the Women Farmers Conference organised by the Indian Farmers Fertilizer Cooperative Limited (IFFCO) here, Sinha said the United Nations General Assembly has fittingly declared 2026 as the International Year of Women Farmers, calling it a long-awaited dream.
“I view International Women Farmers Year 2026 as a historic opportunity, proclaiming women as creators, not mere labourers, in agriculture’s growth. Prioritise women farmers in every scheme. I trust 2026 will sincerely recognise women’s roles in agriculture and allied sectors, fulfilling their aspirations,” the Lt Governor said.
He highlighted that women sustain the world and work harder than their male counterparts, and urged technology innovators to prioritise technical tools for women farmers.
Sinha stressed that agriculture, horticulture, fisheries and dairy departments must allocate resources to women farmers, while financial institutions should design loan products enabling landless women farmers to access credit in their names.
“We must reinvigorate society with the resolve for women-led development in Jammu and Kashmir, enabling women’s power to transform it.Significant strides in women empowerment since 2020 have set a national example, and our women farmers empowerment project exemplifies this success,” he said.
The Lt Governor observed that under the Holistic Agriculture Development Program (HADP), J&K has registered 14,782 women farmers. He noted that over 90,000 women are beneficiaries of the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi, and nearly 3.11 lakh women are registered across agriculture and allied sectors in the Union Territory.
He called upon IFFCO to establish a farmers’ training centre, a multi-facility service centre, a sheep production unit, and provide mobile soil testing machines in J&K.
Sinha also announced that a mass movement for a ‘Drug Free Jammu and Kashmir’ for the Kashmir division will be launched from Srinagar on May 3, 2026, urging women and youth to actively participate.
Minister for Agriculture Production Javid Ahmad Dar, IFFCO Chairman Dileep Singhani, Managing Director K.J. Patel, and senior officials were present on the occasion. The Lt Governor also felicitated women agri-entrepreneurs and visited stalls put up by IFFCO and various entrepreneurs. (KNS)
