Director Agriculture Jammu, Inder Jeet today kick-started the first picking of Coloured Capsicum grown under protected cultivation here at Krishi Bhawan, Talab Tillo.The Coloured Capsicum and other vegetable crops are being grown here under Naturally Ventilated Polygreen House (NVPGH) using advanced vegetable cultivation practices for Demonstration of the same for the farmers.In his address, the Director Agriculture stressed upon the officers to motivate the farmers to go for the production of exotic and high value vegetables under protected and controlled conditions to get round the year production for high returns.He said that coloured capsicum is in high demand from hotel industry and consumers as it is a good source of vitamins A, B & K, carotenoids and dietary fiber which makes them immensely beneficial for over all good health. He further said that all out efforts should be made to popularize high tech interventions by the Department for doubling farmers’ income and attracting the educated unemployed youth towards agriculture entrepreneurship.Agronomist, Vegetable Improvement Scheme, A. S. Reen elaborated in detail the scope of coloured capsicum and other exotic vegetables and highlighted the dietary and health benefits of coloured capsicum.Other vegetable crops like Seedless Cucumber, Tomato, Broccoli, Lettuce, Bottle Gourd, Bitter gourd are also being grown in Jammu Province Agriculture Experimental (JPAE) Farm, Talab Tillo using organic farming practices, he added.Joint Director Agriculture (Inputs), Anil Nargotra; Joint Director SLUB, Daisy Bhan; Deputy Director (Central), Jagmohan Bhat; Agriculture Economist, K. K. Sharma; FDA (Polyhouses), Rohit Singh Ballowria; FDA (Floriculture Nursery), L.N. Dhar and Farm Manager (Experimental Farm), R. K. Sharma were also present on the occasion besides others.