Linkage between youth and Department to be strengthened via Farmers Field Schools

Srinagar: Director Agriculture Kashmir Chowdhary Mohammad Iqbal has called upon officers to explore the possibilities for cultivation of Saffron on trial basis in different districts of Kashmir division especially Baramulla and Kupwara.
This during a a meeting of all Divisional Heads and Chief Agriculture Officers of Kashmir Division at Lalmandi, Srinagar.
He further said that more and more training camps and tours within and outside the UT may be conducted on priority to upgrade the farming skills of the farmers. He directed the officers to come up with comprehensive plans for establishing Farmers Field Schools in all districts of valley in order to facilitate and strengthen the linkage between youth and Department to encourage active exploration and understanding of modern farming system. It has also been deliberated that upcoming Farmer Field Schools at SM Farm Padgampora and Floriculture Nursery Lalmandi will serve as model centres for the purpose.
He was chaired a meeting of all Divisional Heads and Chief Agriculture Officers of Kashmir Division at Lalmandi, Srinagar.
Director took a detailed review of physical / financial progress report under CAPEX/CSS, major physical achievements, organic farming in Kashmir province, area expansion under vegetable cultivation, status of Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT), status of KCC/PM-Kisan/PM-KMY, Soil Health Card Schemes and status of PM formalization of micro processing enterprise (FME).
While deliberating about the physical / financial progress under CAPEX/CSS, Director laid stress upon the officers to achieve cent percent target within the stipulated time frame. He asked the officers to follow all codal formalities and reach out to the farmers for delivery of Departmental schemes judiciously so that the funds allocated are spent efficiently.
Director exhorted upon the officers to make comprehensive plans while drafting Detailed Project Reports (DPR) for overall well being of farming community. He laid a special emphasis on the progress on different centrally sponsored schemes and projects being implemented. Director expressed satisfaction on various developmental and innovative steps taken by the officers and field functionaries in achieving the targets under various programs.
Chowdhary directed, while implementing different schemes and programs the ultimate consideration should be the benefit of farming community. He evolved the need to strengthen the bond between the farmers and the Department. He appreciated the participants of the meeting for their role in motivating the farming community in adopting new techniques in the field of agriculture.
Director instructed the concerned officers of all the districts to promote the vegetable cultivation at district level so that more and more growers get benefited. He said that the Department is committed to start sale of vegetable seedlings from 25th February at kitchen garden Lalmandi which will continue to facilitate vegetable growers.

KR Desk