Making a strong pitch for adopting “lab to land" approach to increase farm productivity, Minister for Agriculture Mr. Ghulam Nabi Lone Hanjura today asked agricultural scientists to disseminate technologies to farmers to improve productivity.He said in this regard Sher-i-Kashmir University of Agriculture Science and Technology (SKUAST) Kashmir and Jammu have been asked that the researches should not be confined to the laboratories rather emphasises should be on practically utilizing them to strengthen capabilities of farmers and motivating them to adopt latest technologies with hope. The Minister was addressing at a high level meeting convened to discuss and reviewed the activities carried out by the Agriculture, Command Area Development (CAD) and Sericulture Departments in twin districts of Rajouri and Poonch, here.
Minister for Consumer, Affairs and Public Distribution and Tribal Affairs Ch. Zulfkar Ali, Minister for Transport, Abdul Gani Kohli, Legislators, Dr Shahnaz Ganai, Yashpaul Sharma, Surinder Chowdhary, Javid Ahmad Raina, Shah Mohammad Tantray and Dr. Krishan Lal, Commissioner Secretary Agriculture, Mohammad Ashraf Bukhari, Vice Chancellor SKAUST, Prof. Pradeep K. Sharma, Heads of the Departments of Agriculture, Command Area Development (CAD), Sericulture Departments, Director Extension SKAUST Jammu and Chief Agriculture Officers of Rajouri and Poonch were present in the meeting.Minister for Agriculture said that there is a need to aware the farmers about the welfare schemes besides latest techniques for improving productivity in the state. He directed to organizing more and more awareness camps so that maximum lot is benefited.
While taking review of the Sericulture sector, the Minister expressed satisfaction that Rajouri has been leading cocoon producing district of the State. He laid emphasis that the sericulture related activities should also been given impetus in Poonch also adding that a comprehensive action plan should be implemented for increasing cocoon production and providing employment opportunities to the people.Responding to the various issues including construction of bore wells, water harvesting tanks, check dams, adoption of villages under Rajmesh cultivation and issuance of polythene houses raised by the Legislators during the meeting, the Minister said that all out efforts are being made to provide better facilities to the farmers and also Exhibition Cum Awareness Camps are organizing in the State to aware farmers about the welfare schemes.
Mr. Hanjura said that there is need to give a boost to apiculture and mushroom cultivation in Rajouri and Poonch and instructed the concerned to conduct door to door survey and ensure every possible assistance to the interested farmers.Minister for CAPD Ch. Zulfkar instructed the officers of Agriculture, Sericulture and CAD departments to consult the concerned representatives while envisaging any developmental plan for better implementation of the projects and catering the area specific developmental needs. Ch. Zulfkar also emphasized for providing better irrigation facilities and timely distribution of seeds.Minister for Transport Mr. Kholi in his address stressed for conducting frequent field visits and sensitizing the farmers about the latest techniques. He also stressed for introducing and popularizing organic farming in the state.Earlier, the Heads of various Departments gave brief resume about the physical and financial achievements of the concerned departments in Rajouri and Poonch districts in their respective departments.