Principal Secretary Agriculture Production & Farmers Welfare Department, Navin Kumar Choudhary, today inaugurated the sale of seedlings of different vegetable crops produced purely on scientific lines in High Tech Polygreen Houses at Lal Mandi, Srinagar.The sale witnessed tremendous enthusiasm of people with overwhelming participation, not only from Srinagar but also from far-flung areas of the valley.While interacting with the beneficiaries, Principal Secretary said that the department is committed to promote kitchen garden and backyard vegetable culture in the urban areas of valley and a number of steps have already been taken in this regard.Principal Secretary said that seedlings of different crops produced on scientific lines are more disease resistant and productive, which ultimately makes venture of vegetable production economically viable. He asked the kitchen garden lovers to avail this opportunity and take maximum benefit of all such initiatives offered by the department.
Director Agriculture Kashmir, Chowdhary Mohammad Iqbal, informed the Principal Secretary about various steps being taken up by the department for promotion of Vegetable Production and kitchen Garden culture in urban areas. It is expected that more than 3 lakh hybrid seedlings of different types will be distributed among the growers, he added.
Joint Director Agriculture Kashmir Farms, Syed Waseem Ahmad Shah, Joint Director Agriculture Extension, Shahid Iqbal, Joint Director Apiculture and Mushrooms, Mohammad Syed and other senior officers of the department were also present.Later, Principal Secretary AP&FWD presided over a farewell organised in honour of 5 Agriculture Officers of Kashmir division on their superannuation today. The retirees included Chief Agriculture Officer Baramulla, Mohammad Yousuf Shah, Director Rakhs and Farms, Shabir Ahmad Wani, Deputy Director Law Enforcement Kashmir, Navtej Singh Bali, Regional SMS Ramesh Kumar and Accounts Officer Jan Mohammad Koul.