District Development Commissioner Pulwama , Ghulam Mohammad Dar, today convened a meeting to review progress and development in Agriculture, Horticulture, Sericulture and Floriculture sector here.Additional Deputy Commissioner, Joint Director Planning, Chief Agriculture Officer Pulwama, District Agriculture Officer, Project Coordinator Saffron Mission, Deputy Director Sericulture and District Floriculture Officer were also present in the meeting.Threadbare discussions were held during the meeting to come out with out of box solutions so that these sectors get an impetus.The Chief Agriculture Officer Pulwama informed the meeting that an area of about 29430 hectare area have been brought under Kharif crop and 24260 hectare have been brought under Rabi cultivation. While as 14900 Qtls of fertilizer, 525 vermi composts, 361 welders have been provided to farmers. It was also stated that 32 farmers have been provided training under National Mission on Agriculture Extension Programme. Meanwhile 500 Bee colonies have been provided to the farmers with an assistance of Rs 6.36 lacs during financial year.The meeting was informed that National Mission on Saffron has been sanctioned by Government of India at a total cost of Rs 372.18 crores, of which GoI share is Rs 288.06 crores and farmers’ share is Rs 84.12 crores. The Mission is proposed to be completed within a period of 4 years aimed at Economic Revival of J&K Saffron Sector.
Out of the total Project Cost of the Saffron Mission in J & K, 86 per cent funding is being spent in district Pulwama on different components like rejuvenation, strength of irrigation system, enhancing product quality, mechanization, providing infrastructure facility, establishment of quality testing and market facilities.The meeting was informed that the target date of completion has already been extended and impressed upon all the officers linked with implementation of the programme to gear up their men and machinery for timely completion of the project.The meeting also took a thorough review of horticulture sector of the district. It was disclosed that out of 25989 hectare land, 15597 hectare land is under orchards and 31 farmers have been provided High Density Trees.Deputy Director Sericulture informed the meeting that 881 Kanals of land is under sericulture and the cocoon production in last year was 30,000 Kgs. He said that some major policy decisions were taken to make the department self-reliant especially in Mulberry Sector, Seed Sector and Post Cocoon Sector and to explore possibility of funding from line departments to bridge the financial gaps and achieve the projected goals. It was also informed in the meeting that the production of seed has increased.District floriculture officer informed the meeting that the department has 12 Parks and 10 nurseries in the district and Floriculture is now regarded as a viable diversification from the traditional field crops because of higher returns per unit area.Keeping in view the tremendous potential of Floriculture, all possible efforts to boost the floriculture industry/development of commercial floriculture has been taken.