Minister for Agriculture, Ghulam Hassan Mir today said that State Government during last five years of regime gave focussed attention on Agriculture resulting in successful accomplishment of various targets fixed for the purpose.The Minister was addressing a gathering of farmers at Sheikh-ul-Aalam Hall Budgam. The function was convened to hold interaction with farmers, aimed at listening their grievances and on-the-spot redressal. The Minister said that under National vegetable initiative for urban cluster which was launched in 2011-12, few areas in adjoining areas of Srinagar have been identified and in Budgam the areas of Narkara, Bugaam have registered highest growth of quality vegetables which are imported to other northern states of the country besides local consumption. Considering the demand for a Fruit Mandi in Narkara region, the Minister directed the district administration to identify land for a much demanded and needed fruit and Vegetable Mandi which was highly applauded and appreciated.
The Minister also directed the officers of Agriculture department to provide all modern equipments of farm mechanization and also suggested the farmer community not to depend on the material and financial support of the government but to be self reliant and understand the true purpose of government aid which is to inculcate healthy scientific agricultural practices. He said efforts of growing high quality Basmati are being done massively especially through the recent seed multiplication programme. He advised the farmers to make better use of Kissan Credit Card by returning the borrowed money through Kissan Credit Card in a cycle of one year only so that it attracts a simple interest of 4 percent instead of proving defaulter and using the money for non productive activities. Boasting of disbursement of 1200 crores loan amount through KCC in the state, minister said that out of Rs. 1200 crore, Rs. 595 crore were disbursed in Kashmir pision and 76 crores in district Budgam.
Emphasizing upon the success of vegetable initiative, Joint Director, Extension Mr. Malhotra said that an increase of 8 percent was observed in growth of vegetables in the state making it 8.70 lakhs tons from 8.24 lakhs tons.Two thousand plus farmer interest groups have been formulated and agriculture is no more a fragmented activity but modern concepts like collective farming, input purchasing and joint marketing are taking up with the farmers in the State, he informed the gathering.While interacting with the minister, the farmers from district Budgam hailed the efforts of Agriculture department in providing them with modern agricultural equipments besides introducing scientific agricultural practices and put forth various demands like fruit and vegetable pack houses, timely distribution of popular and high yielding seeds, cold Storages and provision of mini tractors etc.Deputy Commissioner Budgam, Khurshid Ahmed Shah, Director Agriculture, Peerzada Mushtaq Ahmed Mir and Chief Agriculture Officer Budgam, Mushtaq Ahmed Parray were also present besides other officers from Agriculture department and district administration.