The Department of Agriculture, Kashmir pision organized a Mega Kissan Mela at Dak Bunglow Baramulla today in which a large number of progressive farmers from Rafiabad, Sopore, Pattan, Tangmarg and other adjacent areas participated.Minister for Agriculture, . Ghulam Hassan Mir inaugurated the day-long mela this morning.On the occasion, MLC, . Ghulam Nabi Monga and District Development Commissioner, Baramulla, Dr. Farooq Ahmed Lone were also present.Speaking on the occasion, the Minister said that with the endeavors of the Government and tireless effort of agriculture department a tremendous increase has been registered in the production of crops especially paddy and vegetables.
Mir said the main objective of the government is to involve more and more people in agricultural activities in the state as agriculture and its allied sectors are not only important for the economy of the State but also provides a vast scope of employment opportunities. He said several innovative schemes sponsored by the Centre as well as State Governments have successfully been implemented by the department with the aim of benefitting large number of farmers.The Minister said that with use of newer technologies and adoption of scientific methods in the field better yields have been achieved in the shape of increased productivity.
Responding to certain concerns raised by some fruit growers and farmers regarding recent breakout of scab in their orchards, the Minister instructed the Deputy Commissioner Baramulla to look into the matter on priority and get an assessment done of the losses and damages incurred, and accordingly submit a report to the government so that the cases for providing necessary relief to those affected can be taken up at the earliest.The Minister said that such Kissan Melas provides a platform to the farmers to highlight Agriculture related issues and also acquaint them to newer agriculture techniques and latest farm machines.MLC, . Ghulam Nabi Monga also spoke on the occasion.Highlighting the activities of the department, Director Agriculture, Kashmir, Peerzada Mushtaq Ahmed said that during kharief season the department provided 1094.30 quintals of all varieties of paddy, 1112.60 quintals of hybrid maize, 456 quintals of potato seed tuber and 1.46 quintals of hybrid vegetables to the farmers of Barmulla district. He said 51 power tillers, 7 tractors, 190 irrigation pump sets, 15 foot sprayers were also provided to the famers.
In addition he said 3 mushroom units and 7 apiculture units have been provided to the farmers.He said that under Seed Village Programme 115 hectare land has been covered while as 180.13 hectares land have been covered under paddy and 49.51 hectares land under maize in the District.The Director said that 37.03 hectare land has been covered under tomato cultivation for which the seed, chemical fertilizers and pesticides worth Rs. 12.50 lakh have also been provided to the farmers as financial assistance.Earlier, the Minister went round the stalls set up by the department and its allied sectors where variety of seeds were kept available for farmers besides various kinds of agricultural inputs were kept on display.Besides Managing Director Agro Industry, . Abdul Majid, Director Sericulture, . Farooq Ahmed Malik, Joint Directors, Deputy Directors of various wings of agriculture, horticulture, sericulture and other allied wings of the departments and the large number of farmers, panches and sarpanches attended the mela. (KNS)