PAMPORE: Agriculture Production and Farmer’s Welfare Department Kashmir on Tuesday organized the first Organic Fair at Patal Bagh village of Pampore in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district.
The fair was inaugurated by Director Agriculture Kashmir Chowdhary Mohammad Iqbal.
While speaking to a gathering of farmers Director Agriculture said that organic produce is becoming an integral part of regular food consumption, and for enhancing organic production throughout the valley, the Department is taking various initiatives.
Talking to Kashmir Reader Director Agriculture Choudhary Mohammad Iqbal applauded Pulwama farmers for introducing organic farming in the UT of Jammu and Kashmir
“Organic farming was a challenge before the department as we were contemplating how to adopt this concept when we used to read about it in books,” the director agriculture said.
He told Kashmir Reader that he was happy to see that Pulwama took a lead in this and first organic fair was organised in the district.
“Many farmers showcased their produce,
“I congratulate all farmers who participated in the programme, they created a history and their names will be remembered,” he said. “All of us learned from their expertise,” he said.
In Pulwama three cluster villages of Organic farming are running at Bangund,Qazigund and Patalbagh.
Director Agriculture reiterated that they are determined to provide better marketing platforms to the farmers and growers so that they get better remunerative prices of their produce.
The Director Agriculture directed Chief Agriculture Officer Pulwama to establish a Mandi in the vicinity of organic villages for providing a better platform for marketing.
Deputy Commissioner Pulwama Dr Raghav Langer was also present on the occasion. He urged officials of Agriculture department to provide market facilities for organic produce.
He also took a stock of various stalls which were showcased in the fair.
Chief Agriculture Officer Pulwama Mohammad Qasim Gani said Pulwama district has started organic farming in the year 2017 and harvested first organic produce in the year 2020 which was sold to the Hotels of Srinagar and adjoining areas on better remunerative prices.
“Our aim is to propagate organic farming in other areas of Pulwama district for which District Administration and the Department are providing all possible support,” he said.
Organic vegetables of various growers, honey, bio-pesticides and were stalled in the fair.
Block Development Council Members, Senior Officers of the District and a large gathering of organic vegetable growers were present in the fair.

BILAL HABIB