In a landmark initiative, the Agriculture Department Kathua has launched Jammu and Kashmir’s first-ever tea plantation drive in Billawar, marking a significant step toward agricultural diversification in the Union Territory. As part of the green push, over 20,000 tea saplings are being planted in the hilly terrain of the region.
The plantation drive was formally inaugurated by MLA Billawar, Satish Sharma, in the presence of Additional Deputy Commissioner Billawar Vinay Khosla, Chief Agriculture Officer (CAO) Kathua Jatinder Kumar, Divisional Forest Officer Indu Sharma, Sub-Divisional Agriculture Officer Ravi Sharma, District SMS Sanjay Gupta and Sanjay Sharma, alongside officials from allied departments, former PRI members, and a large number of local residents.
Speaking on the occasion, MLA Satish Sharma praised the Agriculture Department for its innovative approach. He noted that the climatic and soil conditions of Billawar—particularly across the Shivalik hills—are similar to those in Palampur, Himachal Pradesh, a region well-known for successful tea cultivation. He also informed the gathering that the tea saplings for the drive were sourced from Palampur.
“This is a pioneering step that can transform the economic landscape of the region. If this pilot succeeds, similar plantation drives will be rolled out in other areas as well,” Sharma said. He also commended the UT Administration and the Government of India for supporting developmental efforts in remote and rural pockets.
Highlighting the environmental and cultural value of tree plantation, he connected the drive to the nationwide green initiative “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam 2.0”, urging citizens to plant trees in tribute to motherhood.
ADC Vinay Khosla described the initiative as a “path-breaking move” toward creating self-reliant rural communities. He encouraged the youth and farmers to actively participate in such ventures and emphasized the government’s commitment to rural empowerment under the Mission Yuva campaign.
Chief Agriculture Officer Jatinder Kumar thanked the MLA for supporting the tea plantation initiative and outlined various farmer-centric programs being implemented under the Holistic Agriculture Development Programme (HADP), aimed at improving productivity and promoting sustainable agriculture in the region.
The Billawar tea plantation initiative is expected to open new avenues of employment and entrepreneurship for local farmers while enhancing the green cover and promoting climate-resilient farming practices in Jammu and Kashmir.