Director Agriculture Kashmir, Syed Altaf Aijaz Andrabi today convened a meeting to review the implementation status of various key schemes and projects introduced by the Department of agriculture.Speaking on the occasion, Director said that Agriculture has undergone a drastic shift in relation to consumer demands, change in Government policies, technological advances and innovations emerging environmental concerns and as such it has to be one of the most innovative and efficient sectors.Amid changing weather scenario Director Agriculture stressed upon the officers and concerned crop experts to visit to their respective areas and advise the farmers with respect to different strategies devised by the Department to get the best out of the available resources in terms of quality and produce. Andrabi gave the instructions to Officers concerned Under National Saffron Mission to go ahead with all the pending works under National saffron mission including the targets under Rejuvenation of Saffron corms as mission has been given extension of two years by the Government of India Ministry of Agriculture under MIDH.
Director emphasised upon the Registration of all the beneficiaries (Farmers) under DBT (direct benefit transfer) at an earliest.To achieve the target of commercializing the agriculture sector, Director Agriculture upon the district Heads to take the cultivation of high-value vegetables i.e exotic vegetable and other high-value crops. He said Gurez has been declared as organic Valley and instructions have been passed out to the concerned officers to take necessary steps to prevent the use of inorganic fertilizers and pesticides in the area.The Chief Agriculture Officers were instructed to prepare the DPR ’s on climate change in one potential blocks in each District.The Progress on the procurement of oilseeds was also reviewed and it was impressed upon the officers to speed up the process.Earlier a condolence meeting was held to condole the sad demise of Fayaz Ahmed Qardri Ex CAO Kulgam and QuansarParveeen Assistant Entomologist Jammu.