Minister for Agriculture, Ghulam Nabi Lone Hanjura, today called making concerted efforts to boost organic farming in the State.The Minister was speaking during one-day conference cum workshop on ‘Doubling Farmers’ Income in J&K by 2022 organized by Department of Agriculture at Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST)-Jammu in Chatha.The Minister stressed on implementing organic practices including vermi-compost production, use of organic inputs, farmyard manure and compost.Calling upon the farmers to adopt organic farming, he said organic crops require less investment for cultivation but are much more profitable than conventionally grown crops.Vice-Chancellor, SKUAST-J Dr. Pradeep Kumar Sharma, Vice-Chairman, J&K State Advisory Board for Development of Kisans (SABDK) Daljit Singh Chib, Commissioner/Secretary, Agriculture Production Department Sanjeev Verma, Director, Agriculture Jammu Ashok Kumar Malhotra, Director, Extension SKUAST-J Dr. KS Risam, Director, Research SKUAST-J Dr. JP Sharma, Senior Scientist, Basmati Export Development Foundation, Modipuram Dr. Ritesh Sharma, officers of the department, faculty of SKUAST-J and progressive farmers attended the conference.
While addressing the gathering, the Minister stressed on the need for adopting cluster approach and developing model villages for Mushkbudji Rice, Basmati, Rajmash, Apiculture, Apple and other area specific crops.He further said the formulation of a comprehensive Agriculture Policy for the State is the priority of the Government and concerted efforts are being made to realize dream of doubling farmers’ income by 2022.Hanjura emphasized the officers of the Department to replicate and popularize the success stories of the progressive farmers for transformation of agriculture sector in the State. He called upon the progressive farmers to share their farming techniques with their fellow mates so that they can also increase their agricultural produce by adopting those innovative methods.Reiterating government’s commitment of doubling farmers’ income, he directed the concerned officers to set annual targets and make strenuous efforts to achieve the same. He asked them to organise seminars, awareness camps, kisan melas and conferences on regular basis for educating the farmers about benefits of organic farming and updating them about latest technological advancements in farming.Stressing on the importance of irrigation for increasing agricultural produce, the Minister informed that Pradhan Mantra Krishi Sinchai Yojana (PMKSY) has been implemented in the State under which the government targets to provide sufficient water for irrigation to every field (Har Khet Ko Paani).
The VC, SKUAST-J Dr. Pradeep Kumar Sharma said that there is a need to increase productivity at low cost of cultivation and providing better sale prices to the famers for their produce. Farmers should be exposed to modern technologies involved in grading, packing and branding of products for increasing their income, he added.He stressed on developing a link with the progressive farmers of other states so that the local farmers come to know about the practices being adopted by them for cultivating specific crops.Speaking on the occasion, Vice-Chairman SABDK Daljit Singh Chib called upon the progressive farmers to take optimum benefit of State and centrally sponsored schemes being implemented by the Government for increasing their income manifolds.Meanwhile, Commissioner/Secretary, Agriculture Production Department Sanjeev Verma stressed for engaging youth in agricultural activities so that the young minds can lead the change in the field. He further said that use of agricultural land for non-agricultural purposes should be reduced and agro-vegetable zones should be made in urban areas to save farmland.In the conference, Director, Agriculture Jammu Ashok Kumar Malhotra briefed the participants about the steps being taken by the Department for doubling farmers’ income by 2022. He also informed about the status of various schemes and programmes including PMKSY, Soil Health Card, Kisan Credit Card etc.The progressive farmers also shared their experiences with the participants during the conference.