In bit to boost the agriculture sector of the state, Advisor to Governor K. Vijay Kumar today stressed on encouraging and supporting farmers by providing them better agricultural practices and agronomy support.The Advisor said this while laying the foundation of Agri-Mall in Agriculture complex, Talab Tillo Jammu.The Advisor was apprised that the two storey building consists of Agri-Mall and Divisional Office with floor area of 8000 square feet and it would come up at a cost of Rs. 81.00 lacs.The Advisor elucidated the benefits of this Agri-Mall adding that the Mall would be an asset for the Agriculture and other allied sectors. He hoped the Mall to become one stop shop for Agriculture, Horticulture and Floriculture, benefiting the farmers of Jammu division.Kumar stressed on providing timely assistance and awareness about the best farming practices to the farming community to encourage them to boost the agriculture sector of the state.The Advisors was apprised that the equipment of different reputed brands will be displayed and sold at the Agri-Mall and it will house Tractors, Power Tillers, Power weeders, Cultivators, tractor operated implements, hand tools, sprinklers and drip irrigation system of different brands.Managing Director JK Agros Bhawani Rakwal, Director Agriculture Jammu H. K. Razdan, Director Horticulture Jammu, Rakesh Srangal, Director Command Area Development, Jammu, Jatinder Singh, Director Finance JK Agros Rakesh Khajuria and officers of the agriculture departments were present on the occasion.
The Advisor also visited the Agriculture Complex, Talab Tillo, Jammu and inspected the Naturally Ventilated Poly Green House structures for raising Vegetable Seedlings and vegetable crops grown under protected conditions.Kumar was informed that to extend the area of vegetable crops in Jammu under “Area Expansion Programme” seedlings of different vegetable crops have been raised in the Naturally Ventilated Poly Green House (NVPGH) established under the centrally sponsored Scheme.He was informed that about 200000 seedlings of different vegetable crops and varieties are being raised and to be distributed among the vegetable growers of Jammu areas. The healthy and disease free seedlings of High Yielding Varieties of Tomato, Cucumber and watermelon have been grown for supply to the vegetable growers at nominal costs.
The Advisor also inspected another Naturally Ventilated Poly Green House (NVPGH) under which coloured capsicum, seedless cucumbers and indeterminate varieties of Tomatoes have been raised under protected conditions.He was informed that these NVPGH structures are being shown to the farmers to demonstrate the technology to raise early seedlings and growing of vegetables with high production round the year.Later, the Advisor also interacted with the officers of the department to have first hand information regarding various farmers’ welfare programmes and activities.Director Agriculture Jammu H. K. Razdan, MD JK Agro-Industries Corporation Bhawani Rakwal, Director Command Area Development S. Jitender Singh, Director Horticulture Rakesh Kumar Sarangal, Director Sericulture Gulzar Ahmad, Joint Director Agriculture Extension Bulesh Kumar Zutshi and other senior officers of the Agriculture Department accompanied the Advisor.