Srinagar, Oct 30 (KNS): Around 650 farmers, along with university officials, scientists, students and representatives of various government departments, participated in a programme at Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir (SKUAST-Kashmir) on Friday to witness the live telecast of the release of the 24th instalment of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme.

The programme, organised at the university's Shalimar Campus under the guidance of Vice-Chancellor Prof Nazir Ahmad Ganai, brought together farmers, agricultural experts, extension functionaries and officials from different departments.

Participants watched Prime Minister Narendra Modi's live address from Banaskantha in Gujarat, where over ?18,690 crore was released through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) to more than 9.34 crore eligible farmer families across the country.

The national event also marked the dedication of 521 agricultural infrastructure units and the inauguration of 12 horticulture clusters aimed at strengthening agricultural infrastructure, improving production efficiency and promoting value-chain development in the horticulture sector.

Under PM-KISAN, eligible landholding farmer families receive annual financial assistance of ?6,000 in three equal instalments of ?2,000 each, directly credited to their bank accounts.

The scheme is intended to provide income support to farmers to help meet agricultural and household requirements.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel

Officials said the live telecast provided an opportunity for farmers and other stakeholders to learn about government initiatives aimed at strengthening agricultural infrastructure, improving farm productivity and enhancing rural livelihoods.

The programme also highlighted the importance of coordination among agricultural universities, government departments and farming communities in ensuring access to farmer welfare schemes, scientific expertise and institutional support.

Among those present were Director Extension SKUAST-Kashmir Prof Raihana Habib Kanth, Secretary Technical Agriculture Production Department G A Sofi, Director Agriculture Kashmir Sartaj Ahmad, Director Animal Husbandry Kashmir Dr Ashfaq Ahmad Kelan, Director Sheep Husbandry Kashmir Dr Bashir Amin Kuthu and Deputy Secretary Agriculture Production Department Ravdeep Kour.

Officials said SKUAST-Kashmir, through its Directorate of Extension and network of Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs), continues to undertake farmer-oriented outreach programmes, capacity-building initiatives and dissemination of scientific agricultural technologies across Jammu and Kashmir.

The university's extension activities focus on improving agricultural productivity, profitability and sustainability while strengthening the link between scientific research and farming communities. (KNS)