MLA Nagrota, Ms Devyani Rana, today flagged off an exposure visit of 50 progressive farmers and rural youth from Nagrota Assembly constituency to Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Ludhiana. The seven-day study tour is being conducted under the Holistic Agriculture Development Programme (HADP) scheme, “Project Promotion of Commercial Cultivation of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants,”.
The exposure visit has been organized to acquaint farmers and rural youth with modern scientific techniques, best practices and commercial prospects in the cultivation, processing and marketing of medicinal and aromatic plants. During the visit, participants will interact with renowned scientists and experts at PAU and gain first-hand knowledge about improved varieties, advanced cultivation practices, value addition, post-harvest management and market-oriented farming.
While flagging off the farmers, Ms. Devyani Rana said that such initiatives are fully aligned with the broader national vision and the Bharatiya Janata Party’s commitment towards promoting progressive, profitable and sustainable agriculture.
She stated that agriculture is undergoing a significant transformation with emphasis on innovation, diversification, enhancement of farmers’ income and active involvement of youth, which is opening new avenues for growth and self-reliance in the rural economy.
MLA Nagrota emphasized that cultivation of high-value crops like medicinal and aromatic plants offers immense potential for augmenting farmers’ incomes and creating new livelihood opportunities. She urged the participants to fully utilize the exposure visit and replicate the learnings on the ground for the benefit of the larger farming community.
Ms. Rana further emphasized the need to strengthen the agriculture sector in Nagrota constituency through skill development, exposure visits, adoption of modern technology and institutional support, so as to ensure that farmers are able to effectively benefit from government schemes, technical interventions and expert guidance.
On the occasion, the District Agriculture Officer, Jammu and Sub Divisional Agriculture Officer (SDAO), Marh were also present. They highlighted the importance of exposure to premier agricultural institutions like PAU and expressed confidence that the visit would help farmers adopt innovative practices and contribute to the overall growth of agriculture in the region.