Workshop on safe use of pesticides, adoption of best practices for Basmati production held at Kathua
KATHUA : Department of Agriculture Production and Farmers welfare, in collaboration with Agriculture and Processed Food products Export Development Authority (APEDA) today organised a One day Workshop on “Safe use of pesticides and adoption of good agricultural practices for production of Basmati” here at Dayalchak, Kathua today.
The workshop was organised under a series of initiatives taken by Agriculture Production and Farmer’s Welfare under ‘Azadi ka Amrut Mahotsav’.
The Director Agriculture Production & FW, Jammu Kamal Kishore Sharma highlighted the importance for the production of quality Basmati of international standards. He exhorted the farmers to increase the area under basmati cultivation which will help in raising their income and also use judicious chemicals in paddy production so that international quality pesticide free basmati rice can be produced.
Principal Scientist, Basmati Export Development Foundation, APEDA Dr. Ritesh Sharma, gave a detailed presentation on “Good Agricultural Practices” for the production of Basmati meeting International standards. He informed that India is the leading exporter of Basmati in the world and the Jammu Basmati is most sought after. There is great scope for area expansion and doubling of farmers income by producing pesticide residue free Basmati for export. And on occasion of 75th year of Independence ‘ Azadi Ka Amrut Mahotsav’, thrust has been made by Basmati Export Development Foundation in collaboration with Department of Agriculture Production and Farmers Welfare to aware the Farmers to promote export quality (Pesticide residue free) Basmati in Kathua Basmati growing region.
Subject Specialists from SKAUST (Jammu) Dr. Magdesswar, Dr. Amrish Vaid and Dr. Vishal Mahajan covered all aspects of Integrated Pest Management and Integrated Disease Management underlining judicious use of insecticides/fungicides.
Progressive farmers Tajinder Singh, Jagdish Raj, and Rajinder Singh shared their experiences, issues and challenges of Basmati growing.
Director Agriculture K.K Sharma gave a detailed overview of farmers oriented initiatives undertaken by the Department.
Earlier Chief Agriculture Officer, Kathua Vijay Upadhaya, in his inaugural address welcomed all the dignitaries and apprised that in Kathua district the area under Basmati is 5614 Ha. having production of 15350 Metric Tonnes. The major varieties of Basmati grown in the district are Basmati 1121, Basmati 370, Basmati 1718, Basmati 1509 etc.
The Department of Agriculture also conducted Plant Health Clinic on the occasion for on spot diagnosis and recommendation of plant diseases / insects.
A question answer session was also held on the occasion, in which queries raised by the progressive basmati growers were satisfactorily addressed by the various experts of the concerned field.
Sub-Divisional Agriculture Officer, Dayalachack Pardeep Sharma presented vote of thanks on the occasion.
Besides others Basmati growers from district Kathua, DDC member Abhinandan Sharma, DDC Member Karan Kumar Attri, Joint Director (Agriculture), Marketing & Post Harvest Management A.S Reen, Joint Director of Agriculture (Ext.) Jammu, Rajan Sharma, BDC member Hiranagar Block Ram Lal Kalia, Officers, Officials, Sarpanches, Panches and nearly 500 farmers attended the workshop.