Director Agriculture Kashmir Syed Altaf Aijaz Andrabi today inaugurated a function at Agriculture Complex Lalmandi, Srinagar to celebrate Women Farmers’ Day on the eve of International Day for Rural Woman.Speaking on the occasion, Director Agriculture said that the main aim and purpose to mark this day was to celebrate and acknowledge the crucial role that women play in ensuring the sustainability of Agriculture sector.The Director said that women make upto 60-70% of field workers, organisers, and field managers in Agriculture Sector and it is encouraging to find educated women also participating in urban agriculture. He also held an interactive session with women farmers and women self-help groups from district Srinagar & Baramulla.Andrabi said the Department is trying to ensure that women become part of the mainstream Agriculture and contribute towards doubling the income of their families. He asked the concerned officers to develop a road map for strengthening the women self-help groups.
Director agriculture said that women are active in agriculture and allied wings like Apiculture, Mushroom cultivation, poultry etc which is a good sign and their contribution to the rural economy is vital, therefore department is focusing on self-help groups and women centric efforts will add some more dimensions in their activities. It has been decided to celebrate October 15 every year as ‘’Women Farmers Day’’.Director ordered the concerned Officers to organise special skill-based training programmes for women farmers and women self-help groups so that they could excel in special branches and allied wings of agriculture.Earlier different experts including Regional SMS, Hamida Zahoor Programme Officer, Asifa Nabi, expert in Disease Management Shazia Masoodi briefed the participants about various women centric activities and programmes that are being implemented by the Department of Agriculture and its allied wings.The function was attended by women farmers, women self-help groups from district Srinagar and Baramulla and concerned officers of the department. Similar functions were held in different districts of Kashmir division including district Budgam.