The UT level Approval & Monitoring Committee approved ₹2.7 crore for the Annual Action Plan under the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) and ₹2 crore under Agriculture Technology & Management Agency (ATMA) for PMKSY

The meeting of the committee was chaired by Advisor, Ladakh, Umang Narula on June 26.

Advisor Narula reviewed the objectives, allocating funds under the centrally sponsored schemes and the proposed action plan prepared by the Agriculture Department for the year 2021-22. He suggested that the Agriculture Department should send farmers to renowned & prestigious agriculture institutions outside Ladakh to provide them exposure to the latest and best agriculture practices.

During the meeting, Advisor Narula emphasised the need to implement drip and sprinkle irrigation, especially in drought-prone areas of UT Ladakh. The concerned officials were directed to implement these water-efficient irrigation systems in Ladakh. An amount of ₹2 crores was approved under PMKSY so that farmers from Ladakh could adopt these new technologies. The provisions of solar water lifting pumps that promote carbon neutrality were also included in the action plan.

Pawan Kotwal, Principal Secretary, Planning, Forest & Environment; Ajeet Kumar Sahu, Commissioner Secretary, Water Resources/ Irrigation/ Minor Irrigation; Ravinder Kumar, Secretary, Fisheries; Secretary, Animal Husbandry;  Srikant Suse, Deputy Commissioner/ CEO, LAHDC, Leh; Santosh Sukhadeve, Deputy Commissioner/ CEO, LAHDC, Kargil; Dr. O P Chaurasia, Director Defence Institute of High Altitude Research, Leh; Director, Animal Husbandry; Dr Mohd Raza; Dr. Deldan Namgil, Senior Scientist (Soil Water Engineer), SKUAST, Leh and Tashi Tsetan, Chief Agriculture Officer attended the meeting.