Minister for Agriculture, Ghulam Nabi Lone Hanjura suggested scientists working in the field of agriculture to reach out to the farmers with the technological innovations and research work to the fields to enhance their production.The Minister said this while addressing the participants during three day Zonal Workshop of Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) of Zone-1 at SKUAST (J).Hanjura said that it is vital that the farmers are kept well abreast with the advancements in the agriculture sector to enhance their production and to double their income by 2022.The Minister said that KVK has a great role in organizing campus training programmes for farmers, rural women, youth and officers of the Agriculture department to make them aware about the latest technologies in agriculture sector.Hanjura said that the modern technology available with the agriculture sector must reach properly to the farmers for maximum benefits. He directed KVK officials to organize short and long term vocational training courses in every district on vegetable, floriculture, beekeeping, dairying, mushroom, organic farming and protective cultivation etc for rural youth to promote self-employment.
Hanjura also inspected Technology Park of the SKUAST (J). During the inspection to Agricultural plots, the minister inspects various new crops prepared by the SKUAST (J).DDG Extension ICAR, New Delhi, Dr A K Singh said that Jammu & Kashmir is doing well in agriculture sector and is achieving great heights. He said that SKUAST (J) has also taken number of pro farmers projects for the last couple of years which is appreciable.DDG Extension said that Agriculture scientists should act as facilitators and added that doubling farmer’s income by 2022 is a challenge and state government should adopt modern technologies to achieve the targets.The thrust of the workshop was to increase income and employment among the farmers by the introduction of new agriculture technology.Vice Chancellor SKUAST (J) Dr P K Sharma, DDG Extension ICAR, New Delhi Dr A K Singh, Director ICAR “ATARI” scientists of SKUAST (J), faculty members and students participated during the workshop.Later, the Minister also inaugurated Directorate of Extension Education Main Complex and State Agriculture Management and Extension Training Institute at Chatha in Jammu.