Introduction of new varieties of crops will boost the income of farmers: Director Agriculture

SRINAGAR : The Director Agriculture Kashmir Chowdhury Mohammad Iqbal said that we have to introduce new crops and varieties to our menu because this will boost income of farmers and will help us to explore the unique agro-climatic conditions of the region. These views were expressed by Director Agriculture Kashmir during his visit to Banday Bagh and other areas of district Budgam.

Director visited the agriculture fields of different areas in the district and took stock of agriculture activities, feedback from the concerned farmers. During his exchange of views with the farmers of different areas, he highlighted the importance of crop diversification, precision farming, cultivation of organic vegetables and introduction and adoption of agriculture enterprises like apiculture, mushroom production etc.

He impressed upon the farmers to take full advantage of prevailing agro-climatic conditions and diversify their crop cultivation operations to get maximum out of it. He said our season for vegetable production is on when it is off-season for the rest of the country which allows us the opportunity to export our fresh vegetables to other states of the country and earn more returns for our produce. He said the department has already adopted a multi-faceted marketing model to provide the farmers with marketing facilities for their produce at their doorsteps.

Director Agriculture asked the concerned officers to work in close co-ordination with the farmers and agri-entrepreneurs of the concerned area and make sure that every latest intervention reaches the farmer, it is adopted and implemented by the farmers successfully, he added.

Later on Director Agriculture visited to SDAO office Budgam, Soil Testing Laboratory Budgam and took stock of the functioning of these two establishments.