Socio-economic development of the farming community, department’s primary objective: Director Agri; Department committed to attract educated youth to the agriculture sector

SRINAGAR : The Director Agriculture Kashmir, Chowdhary Mohammad Iqbal today said that the Agriculture activities in Kashmir were encouraging and the sector stood strong during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Director said this while chairing a meeting of senior officers of the department. He added that the department has been able to maintain the availability of vegetables and other agricultural commodities in the valley for the local consumers and to send large consignments of vegetables to different markets in and outside the UT which contributed to the economy.

He gave its credit to the hard work of farmers, farmer friendly policies and close coordination of the department with the farming community.

Iqbal said that the marketing models in consonance with the present demands introduced by the department this year have turned the tables as far as the profitable marketing is concerned.

He said despite the constraints there was no shortfall of vegetables in the UT. He asked the officers of the department to continuously work towards the improvement of socio-economic growth of the farming community.

He highlighted the importance of exploring the new opportunities and avenues in the agriculture sector and reiterated the importance of young educated and skilled farmers to the agriculture sector.

Iqbal directed the concerned officers to organize awareness programmes for the students of colleges and universities to make them understand the present agriculture scenario and latest technologies, innovative interventions in the farming sector.

The meeting was attended by Joint Director Agriculture Inputs, Joint Director Agriculture Extension, Joint Director Farms, Joint Director Marketing , Joint Director Apiculture and Mushrooms and other senior officers of the department.