Agriculture department organises farmers’ awareness camp at Udhampur
UDHAMPUR : The Department of Agriculture Production And Farmers’ Welfare Sub Division Udhampur today organized an awareness camp here at Conference Hall of Sub Divisional Agriculture Office, Kallar to mark celebration of the 75th anniversary of Indian Independence under the aegis of Azadi Ka Amrut Mahotsav.
Chief Agriculture Officer, Subash Chander Sharma; District Agriculture Officer Alok Pandotra; Sub divisional Agriculture Officer Udhampur Rajesh Gandotra; Zonal Heads of all the zones of Sub Division Udhampur ,Jr. Agriculture Extension Officers, Agriculture Extension Assistants of different Panchayats along with farmers were present on the occasion.
On the monumental occasion, the farmers were made aware about the Central schemes being implemented for development and uplifting of the farming community and to achieve the vision of the Prime Minister to double the Income of Farmers by the year 2022.
The farmers are already being benefitted by various centrally sponsored schemes like SMAM which enables the farmers to obtain government assistance to upgrade their Mechanized Agricultural Inputs, PM Kisan Samman Nidhi, KCC, Kissan Mandhan yojana under which farmers in the age of 18 years to 45 years can make small investments to take advantage of pension benefits after attaining 60 years of age.
The farmers were also informed about PMDP, ATMA, NFSM, PMKSY under which the willing farmers can obtain assistance for various modernized irrigation systems like, Bore wells, drip irrigation systems, sprinkler systems which will strengthen the drive to produce more crop per drop.
The chief Agriculture Officer, in his address, emphasized on the integrated farming system in which Mushroom cultivation, Bee keeping, Cultivation of Aromatic plants (Lemon Grass, Lavender ) and medicinal plants (Aloe Vera) can be opted by the farmers. He informed the farmers that a lemon grass cultivation project has been introduced this year in zone Tikri. He encouraged the farmers to conserve rain water and advised them to actively participate in water harvesting drive.
The farmers present were also made aware of the PM Kusum Scheme under which farmers can obtain assistance up to 80% of the total cost to install solar operated water pumps and Solar dryers.
On the occasion the farming community was reminded of how the community strengthens and contributes to the GDP of this great nation and why our young generation should adopt farming as their profession to make the whole community prosperous.
Sub Divisional Agriculture officers Udhampur Rajesh Gandotra cautioned the farmers regarding the attack of Fall ArmyWorm (FAW) on the current Kharif crop of Maize. He gave tips on prevention of attack on the crop. He also shared the success stories of farmers of various Panchayats who have actively participated in the Jeevika project and doubled their respective income by adopting various modern agricultural practices in this project and the benefits of integrated farming practices.