SRINAGAR The Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Baseer Ahmad Khan Saturday termed Agriculture, Horticulture and Tourism sectors as the backbone of States economy.
The Divisional Commissioner made these remarks while inaugurating the mega Kisan Mela 2019 in the premises of Agriculture Complex, Lal Mandi. The mela was organized by the department of Agriculture under ATMA scheme.
On the occasion, the Divisional Commissioner urged the farming community to adopt scientific methods to enhance their crop yield. He said that the new farm techniques will also create huge employment potential and Kashmir can become a self sufficient in rice and vegetables. He urged the farmers to approach agriculture department and SKAUST for latest trends, techniques and schemes in Agriculture sector for their better crop yield.
The Divisional Commissioner also unveiled a wall calendar and brochures of Department of Agriculture which showcase different activities and achievements of the department.
Khan also distributed a cash prize of Rs 10,000 each to the progressive farmers under ATMA scheme.
Director Agriculture Altaf Aijaz Andrabi said that Kashmir has a good potential of rice and vegetable cultivation and we are working to improve their marketing by giving a specific brand name, value addition, alternative packing and labeling to increase their value.
In the mela the Agriculture Department and its allied wings and sectors had installed various stalls depicting the high yielding variety seeds of vegetables, cereals, fodders, oats, seedlings, etc. Stalls of Apiculture (Honey), Mushrooms, Sericulture, floriculture, fisheries, sheep husbandry, farm equipment, mechanized implements, refrigerated vans, tractors, Banks and other related stalls were erected for the benefit of farmer community.
The Divisional Commissioner visited every stall and inquired the facilities which are being provided to the farmers and growers. In the technical session, the experts of the Department of Agriculture gave detailed presentation about crop management, marketing, mechanization, use of high technology, value of organic farming and other important agriculture techniques to the farmers.
All Joint and Deputy Directors, sectoral officers and other concerned officials were present on the occasion.
With technologies, innovations people are adapting farming as profession
A daylong Kissan Mela was organized today at Sports Stadium Budgam. As many as 18 different government departments/ semi government agencies and a dozen of private business players installed their stalls to showcase their products and schemes during the mela which was attended by scores of farmers across the district.
On the occasion, the District Development Commissioner, Budgam Dr Syed Sehrish Asgar along with Director Agriculture Kashmir, Syed Aijaz Altaf Andrabi and CJM Budgam Tabasum Qadir Parray inspected the stalls and enquired about their products and schemes.
The DDC, who was chief guest on the occasion, said that government has launched various schemes/initiatives for farmers to boost their income and make farming as profiteering activity for them.
She said that the district administration Budgam will provide every support to farmers to take farming profession to the newer heights. The DDC said that with the introduction of latest technologies and innovations, more people including educated youth have adopted farming as their profession and have won National and State level awards for progressive farming in the district. She hailed the Chief Agriculture Officer Budgam for organizing the Mela in Budgam and said that farmers will get acquainted with latest farming technologies and innovations and will make best use of such events.
Director Agriculture Kashmir, Syed Aijaz Altaf Andrabi who also spoke on the occasion said that Budgam has huge potential for farming particularly for vegetable farming. He said that the vegetable cover has increased to manifold in the district in past many years as huge number of farmers have got attracted towards the vegetable growing and are making good turnover out of it. The Director expressed his gratitude to the District Administration Budgam for its all time support in organizing agricultural related camps in the district.
The stalls set up by the departments include Agriculture, Fisheries, Horticulture, Poultry, Sheep, NABARD, Agro Industries while as among private players who had set up their stalls include FMC India Pvt. Ltd., Bio stand India, Noble Seeds, Pandit Seeds, Sikri Farms and Exel Crop Care. The Farmers Vegetable Cluster Narakara and District Legal Services had also installed their stalls during the Mela.
On the occasion, teams of Agriculture department Budgam were presented with certificates of appreciation for their extra ordinary work in the field. Ten farmers were also awarded with cash prize for progressive farming in the district.
Among others, Joint Directors Agriculture for Extension, Inputs and Mushroom Coordinator, Chief Agriculture Officer Budgam, Shabir Ahmad Allaqband, Lead Bank Manager, Aijaz Ahmad and officials from allied departments were also present on the occasion.
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