Director Agriculture Kashmir, Syed Altaf Aijaz Andrabi today inaugurated a daylong conference cum workshop here at Lalmandi Srinagar.Director Agriculture stressed upon coordinated efforts between different allied wings of Agriculture, in order to address the farmer’s concerns in view of the prevailing prolonged dry-spell. He said devising a mitigation strategy, introduction of drought mitigation technology, use of new farming practices that require less water are some of the steps that need to be immediately taken into consideration. He said that as the climate change makes drought like situations more frequent, the department has to take steps accordingly, so that farmers may not suffer. He said agriculture is in a transit stage and it has to shift from a traditional activity to a modern entrepreneur based franchise. He said cultivation of crops should be market linked and governed by demand.
“High value crops need to be promoted that can fetch higher returns and contribute to the socio-economic development of farmers.”Andrabi impressed upon the participants to take present agri scenario as a challenge and put all their experience and expertise to safeguard the farmer’s interests and well-being.Certificates of appreciation were given by the Director Agriculture Kashmir, to the different extension officers/ officials for their remarkable services in the concerned field.The conference was attended by Joint Director Agriculture Extension, A.R. Samoon, Joint Director Agriculture Inputs, Sajad Ahmad Shah, Dy. Director Agriculture Central, Syed Ameer-ud-din Andrabi, Chief Agriculture Officer Srinagar, Ghulam Rasool Ganaie, experts of different agriculture subjects and a large gathering of farmers.