Principal Secretary, Agriculture Production & Farmers Welfare, Navin K Choudhary, conducted an extensive tour of Kathua district to inspect on ground activities being undertaken by Agriculture and allied departments here today.Those who accompanied the Principal Secretary included Vice Chairman DDC Kathua, Raghu Nandan Singh, DC Kathua, Rahul Yadav, Director AP and FW, Jammu, K K Sharma, Director Horticulture, Ram Sevak, Director Animal Husbandry, Sagar D. Doifode, Director Horticulture (Planning & Marketing), Vishesh Mahajan, Director CAD, R S Tara, Director Sheep Husbandry, Krishan Lal, Director Fisheries, Bashir Ahmad Bhat, CAO, CHO, CAHO besides other senior officers of agriculture and allied departments.While inspecting the border wheat sowing on 150 acres of Land at Hiranagar sector, Principal Secretary said that the farmers of this area used to keep large acreage of their land uncultivated along the forward line Indo-Pak Border in Hiranagar sector due to cross border firing. He said that this year, due to government policy, a series of collective efforts were initiated by Agriculture Department, Civil Administration, Security Forces (BSF) to achieve a breakthrough in this respect.
As a result, the farming community came forward and a wheat sowing operation was started during Rabi 2021-22 on Zero Line after a period of 19 years.Pertinently, an additional support of seed, fertilizers and tractors was also made available to the farmers and cultivation of Wheat on 150 acre of border land was completed involving farmers of border villages including Chandwan, Chak Changa and Londi.During his visit, Principal Secretary also interacted with farmers who expressed satisfaction over this initiative by the government that enabled them to cultivate their land after a long period.“We are looking forward to cover the entire area which was lying fallow beyond fencing at zero line by next cropping season and all help including provision of agri machinery and other inputs will be made available to the farmers on priority basis” he added.Earlier, Principal Secretary inaugurated Mushroom shed at Jandi colony and interacted with members of Women Self Help Groups.
He also inspected the activities undertaken by Woman FPO where he was informed that FPO comprises of 233 women covering 9 villages and is primarily involved in mushroom cultivation and organic farming.Further, he also inspected Strawberry Farm at Haripur, Sheep Farm at Rajbag besides inspecting the Seed Village laid at JangiChak and Sprinkle Irrigation System at Chak Changa.Meanwhile, while inaugurating the Agri Products Sale Centre set up at Chief Agriculture office, Kathua, Principal Secretary said that 279 nutritional SHGs (one in each panchayat) will be linked with this sale centre providing them a platform for direct sale of their products. He stressed that the need of the hour is to broaden the base of such centers for bringing the right product at the right price for the consumers. He also recommended setting up more such types of sale outlets so that the farmers get better returns and consumers can enjoy fresh and quality vegetables at their doorsteps.