Dr. S. S. Jamwal, Director, Department of Agriculture, hoisted the National Flag at Krishi Bhawan Lawns, Talab Tillo, Jammu to mark the 67th Republic Day Celebrations here today.The programme was organized jointly by the associates of All J & K Agriculture Officers Welfare Forum (AJKAOWF), Non-Gazetted Agriculture Graduate Association (NGAGA), J&K Agriculture Technocrats Association (JAKATA), All J & K Agriculture Employees Association and Agriculture Drivers Union. A large number of officers and employees of Agriculture Department besides local residents from Talab-Tillo area participated in the function.
Speaking on the occasion, Director Agriculture spoke in detail about the importance of this national festival and said that there is a need to work with sincerity and dedication to safeguard the benefits of our freedom. He said that everyone should take pledge on this day to work for the development and prosperity of the nation and make the surroundings and our society free of all evils. He said that he takes pride in saying that hard team work at all levels in the department has brought about desired changes at field level. He further said that more than One Lakh qtls of quality hybrid & certified seed was handled by the department during the year 2015-16.
The Director added that that the system of providing assistance for purchase of latest agriculture machinery by the farmers has resulted in popularization of Rotavators, Power Threshers, Plant Protection Equipments, Spray Pumps, Harvesters etc. besides launching of the new GPS enabled soil sampling, analysis and issuance of Soil Health Cards. He made the special mention of all time high procurement of more than 1.00 lakh quintals of paddy grains from the farmers on Minimum Support Price (MSP) during Kharif Marketing Season 2015 facilitated by the extension functionaries if the department. Mr. Susheel Sahni, Director Law Enforcement, J&K who was the Special guest on the occasion extended warm greetings to all and called for dedicated work in the lab and land in the adequate measures.
Sh Sudesh Koul, Joint Director of Agriculture (Inputs), Jammu recalled the efforts made by past and present officers in building up the infrastructure and work culture in the department. He said that it was because of their tireless devotion that despite so many odds on HRD front the department remained contributing to the welfare of the farming community. Mr. C.M. Sharma, Deputy Director Agriculture (Central), Jammu, Mr. Vijay Upadhyaya, President, AJKAOWF, Pardeep Sharma, President, NGAGA, Mr. Surinder Radotra, President, JAKATA, Mr. Uttam Chand Sharma, President & S. Amrik Singh, General Secretary of All J & K Agriculture Employees Association (JKAEA) also spoke on the occasion and shared their experiences & vision in agriculture development.
Mr. R. L. Bhagat, Chief Agriculture Officer, Jammu, Mr. Sunil Koul, Agronomist (Vegetables), Jammu, S. Matinder Singh, ADO, Jammu Sh Vinod Ganjoo, DAO, Jammu, Mr. Viney Bhola, DSCO, Jammu, S U. S. Sudan, PDO, Jammu, Mr. S. K. Chibber, ADLE, Jammu besides other officers and officials of Agriculture Department attended the Republic Day celebrations. The programme concluded with the presentation of vote of thanks by Mr. J. C. Raina, Information Officer of the Directorate.