Principal Secretary Agriculture Production Department, Sandeep Nayak today held an interactive meeting with the progressive farmers associated with beekeeping, vegetable and Mushk Budji cultivation here at Dak Bungalow Anantnag.District Development Commissioner Anantnag, Mohammad Younis Malik and Director Agriculture Kashmir, Altaf Aijaz Andrabi were also present on the occasion.The farmers associated with apiary (beekeeping) raised a number of demands for boosting the sector in the district including the extension of Kisan Credit Card, proper training, subsidized inputs and medicines, insurance cover and proper marketing facilities. The Principal Secretary assured that the extension of Kisan Credit Card to the beekeepers shall be taken up in State Level Bankers Committee meeting while as providing insurance cover shall also be taken up with the concerned quarters.He instructed the officers to reach out to the progressive farmers so that they can avail the benefits under Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH).
On the occasion, Nayak was informed that the Department is providing market intervention to the mushk budji growers besides providing them pesticides and other paraphernalia. It was given out that during 2016-17 around 6095 qtls of mushk budji was produced at Sagam, Tangpava, Buchu, Hillar, Lisser and Nagam villages out of which 1266 qtls were procured by Agro Industries Corporation providing a benefit of Rs 107.60 lakh to the farmers.During 2017-18, production of 7742 qtls were recorded with a productivity of 60 qtls per hectare out of which 110 qtls were procured by the Department for seed purposes.The farmers growing vegetables thanked the Department for providing organic fertilizers that have boosted the organic cultivation in Bangedar. They demanded poly green films so that they can cultivate saplings during cold season by virtue of which they can become self-sufficient in seed production. They also requested for provision of better marketing and banking facilities besides, providing of quality pesticides and Irrigation facilities.
Meanwhile, the DDC said that district administration shall be providing a water lifting mechanism to the cluster so that adequate water is ensured for vegetable cultivation. He said that vermicompost facility shall be developed in Convergence with MGNREGA for which he requested the Agriculture Department to provide the technical inputs.Pertinently, 150-kanal land has been brought under cultivation under Intensive Vegetable Cluster Scheme at Bangedar while as Departmental intervention at 400 kanals at Gundachahal and 40 kanals at Kutu is being made. The Department is providing seed and organic fertilizers to the farmer community.On the occasion, the Principal Secretary said measures need to be undertaken to provide a fillip to the progressive farmers under apiculture and high-value vegetable cultivation so that they can be able to double their incomes. An area of 50 Kanals have been brought under high-value veggies cultivation where broccoli, asparagus and lettuce are being cultivated.Later, the Principal Secretary also visited the Soil Testing Laboratory and Kitchen Garden Bijbehara where he interacted with the progressive farmers and listened to their demands.