Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that the youth of Jammu and Kashmir possess immense strength and that the introduction of train services from the Valley has significantly accelerated the movement of goods across regions.
The Prime Minister made these remarks during an interaction with progressive farmers from various parts of the country in New Delhi, as part of the launch of the PM Dhan Dhaanya Krishi Yojana — a new ₹24,000 crore scheme aimed at enhancing agricultural productivity, promoting crop diversification, and supporting sustainable farming practices in 100 selected districts.
Among those who interacted with the Prime Minister was Fayaz Ahmad Ganaie, a farmer from Ganderbal district in Kashmir, who shared his success story.
“I’ve come from Kashmir. I saw your progressive schemes for farmers and availed their benefits. Today, I have 14 employees and earn around ₹15 lakh in profits annually,” Ganaie told the Prime Minister, crediting his growth to the Modi government’s initiatives.
Responding to him, PM Modi said,
“The youth of Jammu and Kashmir have immense strength. Now with the train services, goods have been moving fast from the Kashmir valley.”
It may be recalled that goods train services have now started operating directly from New Delhi to Kashmir, enabling the transport of vehicles, apples, and other fruits directly to and from Srinagar for the first time.
During the event, the Prime Minister urged farmers to gradually shift towards natural farming, suggesting that they experiment on small portions of land to build confidence and witness positive results. Several farmers shared their experiences of adopting such innovative practices after earlier interactions with the Prime Minister.
A woman farmer also lauded the PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme, describing the annual ₹6,000 support as “a blessing” that helped her buy seeds and prepare fields on time. Others showcased innovations such as aeroponically grown “Jain potato” and value-added garlic products like paste and powder.
Highlighting India’s agricultural achievements, Modi said that in the past 11 years,
Agricultural exports have nearly doubled,
Foodgrain output has risen by 90 million metric tonnes,
Fruit and vegetable production has increased by 64 million metric tonnes,
India now ranks first in milk production and is the second-largest fish producer globally, and
Honey production has doubled since 2014.
He further informed that over 10,000 Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) have been established to strengthen farmer cooperation and improve market access.
PM Modi said the inspiration behind the PM Dhan Dhaanya Krishi Yojana comes from the success of the Aspirational Districts Model, emphasizing that the government aims to empower every farmer through innovation, technology, and inclusive growth.
