Minister for Agriculture, Ghulam Nabi Lone Hanjura today laid foundation stone of administrative-cum-laboratory block of Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) at Dooru, besides inaugurating Kissan Mela-cum-Rice Field at Khudwani, Kulgam.Minister of State for Hajj & Auqaf Syed Farooq Ahmad Andrabi, Member Parliament Nazir Ahmad Laway, VC SKUAST (K), Dr Nazir Ahmad, Director Agriculture Kashmir, and other senior officers of the Department were present on the occasion.After laying the foundation of Rs 1.50 crore administrative-cum-laboratory block, Hanjura said that the purpose of establishing the laboratory was to provide awareness to farmers so that their agriculture yield sees increase.He directed VC SKUAST (K) to prepare a proposal for setting up of South campus of SKUAST (K) so that the people in south Kashmir avail benefits from the scientific work of the University.The Minister said that it was the dream of former Chief Minister late Mufti Mohammad Sayeed that people in rural area especially the people in South Kashmir are benefited by the agriculture schemes and new techniques and innovations in the field of agriculture.
He also directed the field staff of the Agriculture Department to intensify work of providing soil health cards to the farmers in South Kashmir so that farmers use rice variety in agriculture fields as per their requirements.The Agriculture Minister said that purpose of setting up of KVK in Dooru was to help local farmers to increase the Agriculture production.Minister of State for Hajj & Auqaf said that the people in the Dooru constituency are largely related to agriculture, but the area is yet to fully benefit from scientific activity carried out by the SKUAST (K) and Agriculture Department.Later, Hanjura inaugurated Kissan Mela-cum-Rice Fields at Khudwani.The Minister said that the State Government is committed to provide all facilities to farmers to increase their production and double their farmers’ income by 2022. He said soil health card is best instrument to increase agriculture production.On the occasion, Member Parliament Nazir Ahmad Laway said that agriculture is the backbone of State’s economy and collective efforts are needed to increase the yield and improving income of farmers.