GANDERBAL : The Vice Chancellor Sheri Kashmir University of Agriculture Sciences and Technology (SKUAST-K) Dr. Nazir Ahmad Ganai and Director Agriculture Production and Farmers Welfare Department (AP&FWD) Kashmir, Chowdhary Mohammad Iqbal today visited Floriculture Development Farm Nunar, Ganderbal.

On the occasion, the visiting dignitaries inspected different blocks of the farm and were briefed by the concerned technical officers about different ornamental, medicinal plants grown in the farm and various latest interventions taken up by the department for the development and commercialization of these crops.

Floriculture Development Farm Nunar is a special Agriculture Farm for the propagation and development of ornamental and medicinal plants.

The Vice Chancellor SKUAST-K assured the department of every possible technical support and guidance during the endeavour of promotion of ornamental and medicinal plants in the region. He said SKUAST-K in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture Kashmir will work out a plan to explore different opportunities for the promotion of the Floriculture sector.

Dr. Nazir said that the varsity would put in all efforts so that the real time interventions could be incorporated in the cultivation of ornamental and medicinal plants in Kashmir Division. He said the introduction of latest techniques during the cultivation of ornamental and medicinal plants in Kashmir division would play a vital role in the development of the Floriculture sector.

Speaking on the occasion Director Agriculture Kashmir highlighted the economic importance of ornamental and medicinal in the overall agriculture economic ecosystem. He said there is a huge potential to grab in this sector.

Iqbal further said that the department in collaboration with SKUAST- K would devise a road map for strengthening this sector in the region. The cultivation of ornamental and medicinal on commercial lines and participation of educated youth in this allied wing could help in the socio economic transformation of the concerned farming community, he added.

A joint technical committee of SKUAST-K and AP&FWD Kashmir was also constituted so that the proposed cropping plan could be finalized in a stipulated time frame. The technical committee would also look into the technical issues for a successful cultivation season of ornamental and medicinal plants in the region.

Later, the Director Agriculture visited oilseed growing areas of district Ganderbal which has been brought under the Nation Mission on Edible Oils this year.

During the visit the dignitaries were accompanied by Director Research Dr. Sarfaraz, Deputy Director Planning, Chief Agriculture Officer Ganderbal, Floriculture Development Officer Kashmir and other senior scientists of SKUAST-K and officers of the department.