Ganderbal: To get the impact of transfer of Technology and Beneficiary Oriented Schemes, Director Agriculture Kashmir Syed Altaf Aijaz Andrabi today took an extensive field visit of District Ganderbal.
Speaking with the Media, he said that various schemes are being implemented in agriculture to make the agriculture a remunerative and profitable. While interacting with the field functionaries of the department strict instructions were given for being mobile in their fields and making one to one contacts with the farmers and give them a latest scientific technology and he further stressed that there must be a significant impact of the technology transferred to the farmers. He instructed the officers to exploit the potential of progressive farmers in a their specific fields and give them scientific message to boost their morale for increasing production and making necessary steps to link them with the markets for raising their economy. While inspecting the working of the functionaries of the zone Gulab-bagh, Director Agriculture distributed 25 numbers of Bee- colonies among 10 progressive Bee-Keepers on subsidy. Director Agriculture inspected newly created soil testing laboratory at Manigam Ganderbal and took stock of the facilities in soil testing Laboratory.
Director Agriculture was apprised that at present the laboratory is capable of testing soil carbon, Ph, Electric Conductivity, Phosphorus and Potassium. Director instructed the Dy. Director Planning for making the budgetary provision for purchase of necessary equipments for increasing the testing facility of nitrogen and other micro nutrients in the soils. Mr. Andrabi also took a visit of Floriculture Farm at Nunar Ganderbal wherein Lavender, Lilium, Rose, and other medicinal plants , Summer and winter annuals are grown in a scientific way. During the visit, Mr. Andrabi was apprised that 80000 flower plants are grown and sold to the farmers on subsidized rates. It was also informed that Lavender and other medicinal plants are grown in different section and also Centre of excellence will be developed soon.
Director instructed the Floriculture officers for developing multi pronged activities in the farm and also developing a composite sales Centre here.
While concluding visit, a review meeting was held at Town Hal Ganderbal. The meeting was attended by District Agriculture Officers, Sub Divisional Agriculture Officers, Agriculture Extension Officers, Junior Agriculture extension Officers and Agriculture Extension Assistants.
Chief Agriculture Officer Ganderbal Mr. Ghulam Mohammad Dhobi gave a power point presentation of the notable achievements and centrally sponsored schemes taken up during the previous financial year. Physical achievements under all centrally sponsored schemes and impact of modern technologies provided to the farmers was also discussed in the meeting.
Director took a strong note of the working of the field functionaries and it was emphasized on all the field staff to put their professional endeavour for transforming the agriculture from orthodox to modern and Mr. Andrabi urged for providing proper scientific message to the farmers and for growing of area specific crops. He also stressed for giving boost to cultivation of exotic and high value vegetable crops and supplying it to the national market in fresh condition through the refrigerating vans provided by the department. This will be a step forward to boost the economy of the farming community. Director was accompanied by Joint Directors Agriculture Inputs / Extension, Deputy Director Planning and other senior officers of the department.