Four Groups of 150 farmers from different districts of Jammu Division were flagged off by Commissioner Secretary Agriculture Production Department, Muhmmad Afzal Bhat for Inter State training programme, here today.The training programme is being organized by the Joint Directorate of Agriculture Extension Jammu under Centrally Sponsored Scheme-Support to State Extension Programme for Extension Reforms (ATMA) - a Component of Sub-Mission on Agriculture Extension (SAME).Commissioner Secretary while interacting with the farmers said that the programme will acquaint the farmers with modern techniques for Commercial Agriculture, emerging trends in organic farming, processing, marketing and production aspects of different crops on scientific lines.He further impressed upon the farmers to interact with the farm scientists, experts and extension functionaries to get up to date methodology in cultivation of crops on scientific lines and to adopt the advanced technology for cultivation of cereal food crops, vegetables, Mushrooms, Horticulture Crops, Vermiculture and other agricultural crops.Director Agriculture Jammu, H. K. Razdan asked the farmers to keenly observe and learn various techniques and practices in different institutions and centres of excellence in organic farming and replicate the same in their fields and also to share with their other fellow farmers.He further said that 100 farmers in three groups from Jammu, Samba, Udhampur, Reasi and Kathua will visit Centre of Excellence for Vegetables at Garunda (Karnal), Hi-Tech Nurseries at Kurukheshtra and Karnal in Haryana from 6th to 9th February.
The farmers will see the Result Demonstration of the Hi-Tech and Naturally Ventilated Green House Structures for Protected Cultivation of different vegetables farming. The farmers' group will also visit Entrepreneur Farming in Mushrooms (Bajwa Mushrooms), Sikri Vermicompost Farm, Harvir Hi-Tech Vegetable & Floriculture Nursery and Krishi Vigyan Kendra, NDRI, Karnal.Giving details of the seven days tour programme Joint Director of Agriculture (Extension) Jammu R. L. Bhagat said that the other group of 50 farmers from Rajouri, Poonch and Ramban Districts will attend 3 days training at Citrus Farms, FAPRO and Centre of Excellence at Hoshiarpur (Punjab) from 6th February. The farmers will visit Farmers Produce Promotion Society (FAPRO) which procures fresh farm produce from farmers and processes Turmeric, Natural Honey, Pulses, Fruit and vegetables in its plants. The group will also interact with scientists and experts of KVK Hoshiarpur (PAU Ludhiana) and will also see the Citrus Grading and Packing Unit at Hoshiarpur.Later, Commissioner Secretary also inspected the Naturally Ventilated Green House Structure where 58000 vegetables have been raised and are being distributed among the vegetable growers.Deputy Director Agriculture (Central) C. M. Sharma, Deputy Director Agriculture (Trainings) Sh Sunil Koul, Agronomist Vegetables, H. D. Sharma, DSSO Jammu, Deepak Kuchroo, Agriculture Chemist R. K. Bindroo, Chief Agriculture Officer Jammu, N. K. Dubey, SMS (RL) V. K. Raina, SMS (RL) B. L. Koul and other senior officers and field functionaries of the department were also present on the occasion.