The Agriculture Department Kashmir today celebrated Lavender Festival and the main event was inaugurated by Director Agriculture Kashmir, Chowdhary Mohammad Iqbal at Floriculture Farm Argicheck Pulwama.Speaking on the occasion, the Director highlighted the economic importance of Lavender crop.
He said there is a huge potential to grab in this sector.Department is introducing new interventions for strengthening this crop, the cultivation of Lavender on commercial lines and participation of educated youth in this allied wing of agriculture could help to achieve socio-economic transformation of the farming community, he added.
Iqbal reiterated the Department’s commitment to introduce and promote Lavender in newer areas so that more and more people from the farming community could adopt this under integrated farming concept.
Director said that Lavender is a multi dimensional crop and the agro climatic conditions of our region are one of the best in the country, therefore the Department is working on a long term plan for the cultivation and marketing of this flower.
Director said that Kashmir being one of the best tourist destinations in the country has immense opportunities for the marketing of ornamental plants like Lavender therefore the Department is endeavoring to attract more and more farmers towards the cultivation of ornamental and medicinal plants.
Director Agriculture was accompanied by Joint Director Agriculture Farms Mohammad Qasim Gani, Floriculture Development Officer Waheed ur Rehman, Floriculturist Dr. Anjum Rashid, Seed Multiplication Officer Kashmir Ghulam Mohi ud din Kumar and other officers/officials of the Department.