Additional Chief Secretary (ACS), Agriculture Production Department (APD), Atal Dulloo today reaffirmed the government’s commitment with a single focus objective to increase farmers’ income manifold through better technological interventions in farming.The ACS was speaking at a day-long exposure-tour-cum-field visit and interaction meet of progressive farmers with the scientists/experts of ICAR-Central Institute of Temperate Horticulture with focus on best practices in Horticulture.He urged the participating farmers, scientists and officers of agriculture and allied sectors, in particular to horticulture, to work beyond production and productivity to focus mainly on value addition, branding, marketing, packaging etc.Dulloo maintained that the technology and research have always played an important role in extension where latest technology coupled with research can be taken to the farmers to increase their income.“With the advent of Artificial Intelligence and latest innovations in computer sciences, our farmers can use the technology in fields like weather forecasting, crop & soil health monitoring, remote sensing and GIS mapping,” he said.
Speaking on the occasion, Vice Chancellor Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agriculture Sciences & Technology of Kashmir (SKUAST-Kashmir), Prof (Dr) Nazir Ahmad Ganai, while addressing the interaction meet said there is enormous support system from the government in Agriculture and allied sectors especially for Horticulture sector due to which production has increased manifold.He also spoke about the SKUAST-K’s role in rejuvenating orchards and in the research field to increase production with high density varieties.Dr Ganai said that the university is forming a New Vision document and are setting goals for the same so that the dream of doubling farmers’ income would be realized soon.Director ICAR-CITH, Dr Om Chand Sharma talked about the role of the institute for carrying out basic, strategic and applied research on major temperate horticultural crops.He added that the Institute is involved in generation of basic information identification and development of high yielding varieties and hybrids, efficient cropping systems and appropriate production and protection technologies, post-harvest management, production of quality seeds and planting material, demonstration and transfer of technologies through eight network centres across the country.
While addressing the programme, Director Horticulture Kashmir, Ghulam Rasool Mir said the programme was organized where in 150 progressive farmers -15 farmers from each ten districts of Kashmir division were selected.Secretary J&K Advisory Board for Development of Kisans, Abdul Hamid Wani complemented ICAR-CITH for the programme and hoped that such programmes would help farmers to connect with scientists for the use of latest technologies in farming.While elaborating, he also flagged several issues of the farmers like availability of quality plantation, creating confidence among farmers, awareness programmes among farmers, post harvest and value addition etc.During the programme, several progressive farmers put forth various issues, problems and queries, to which the speakers assured resolution of their issues.Earlier, at Directorate of Horticulture Kashmir here at Rajbagh, ACS Dulloo flagged off a contingent of 150 progressive farmers for a one day exposure tour cum field visit at CITH, Rangreth here.Director Horticulture Panning & Marketing, Director Agriculture Kashmir, Director Agriculture Jammu, Managing Director Agro Industries Development Corporation Ltd., Managing Director Jammu and Kashmir Horticultural Produce Marketing and Processing Corporation (JKHPMC) Limited, Director Sheep Husbandry Kashmir, Director Floriculture Kashmir, Heads of the Departments of APD and other concerned were also present during the programme.