Modi prioritised border areas, termed last village as ‘first village’: Dr Jitendra

JAMMU: Addressing a gathering of farmers, youth, and entrepreneurs during “Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan” in the border area of R.S.Pura sector near here , Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh said that over the last 11 years, Prime Minister Narendra Modi prioritised border areas and sought to do away with the terminology “Last Village” to replace it with “First Village” vision, placing border development at the heart of nation’s growth.

The Minister emphasized that this paradigm shift in the mind-set and approach towards the aspirations of citizens in remote and border regions.

Highlighting India’s leap from the 5th to 4th largest economy, Dr. Jitendra Singh rebuked false narratives of economic downfall due to assertive defence strategies. He cited Operation Sindoor as a testament to India’s balanced approach – maintaining strategic strength while propelling economic growth.

“This rise is a befitting reply to so-called intellectuals who doubted India’s capability to sustain economic growth with a robust defence policy,” Dr. Jitendra Singh asserted, crediting the leadership of PM Modi over the last 11 years for this economic resilience.

Dr. Jitendra Singh quoted Prime Minister Modi’s core governance mantra of serving the Women, Poor, Farmers, and Youth, and affirmed that 26 crore citizen have risen above the poverty line over the last decade through initiatives such as Fasal Bima Yojana, Nano Urea, and direct support for marginal farmers, especially in conflict-affected border regions.

He also recognized the role of Ministry of Home Affairs in ensuring insurance coverage for fields exposed to cross-border shelling.

Dr Jitendra Singh referred to the Purple Revolution, spearheaded from Bhaderwah under the Aroma Mission, which has expanded to Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand.

Dr. Singh proudly shared that over 3,000 lavender-based startups are now active, engaging with perfume industries in Mumbai and redefining the concept of agri-entrepreneurship.

He also spotlighted tulip cultivation-once seasonal, now being harvested off-season. The CSIR-Srinagar is poised to lead cultivation of saffron and marigold, opening new vistas in floriculture.

Biotech and AI to Revolutionize J&K Agriculture

Underlining the role of cutting-edge science, Dr. Singh announced that biotech-based value addition projects will enhance the shelf life of produce, with a notable rise in apple production and SHG involvement.

Dr. Jitendra Singh announced operationalization of Biotech Industrial Park in Kathua, Biotech Kisan Hub under Aspirational Districts Programme, Upcoming AI-based agricultural decision-making system in Srinagar

In a landmark announcement, Dr. Jitendra Singh revealed that Group Captain Shukla, India’s astronaut heading to the International Space Station (ISS) in June, will carry biotech kits for scientific experiments in plant research and seedling growth in the Space milieu, showcasing India’s fusion of space science and agriculture.

Furthermore, 4 Agromet Observatories under the Gram Krishi Seva Yojana have been set up in Ladakh, Srinagar, Jammu and Poonch , and 4 new district-level Agromet units launched in Kupwara, Baramulla, Kathua, and Reasi, with support from SKUAST.

Concluding the event, Dr. Jitendra Singh stated that the path to a developed India (Viksit Bharat) by 2047 will be paved by value addition in unexplored sectors, and that Jammu & Kashmir will play a pivotal role in this transformation.