Srinagar: Director Agriculture Kashmir Chowdhary Mohammad Iqbal on Friday called on Advisor to the Lieutenant Governor Farooq Ahmad Khan at Church Lane Srinagar.
Chowdhary Iqbal apprised the Advisor about the ongoing schemes and different centrally sponsored programmes that are being implemented by the Department at various levels. He also briefed the Advisor about the progress that has been achieved on the various issues raised by the farming community during various public durbars and outreach programmes of the Government.
The Advisor to the LG Farooq Ahmad Khan asked Director Agriculture Kashmir to take the requisite measures for further improving the functioning mechanism of the Department. He directed Director Agriculture and said that the farmers interest should be upheld at all the levels of implementation and service delivery system.
Director Agriculture while briefing the Hon’ble Advisor informed that regarding Kharif preparedness the department is in readiness for distribution of 60 Lakh seedlings of different vegetable seedlings, out of which 50 lakh seedlings will be distributed from Kitchen Garden Lalmandi and rest from respective districts.
He also informed that the Department has already distributed 37 Lakh seedlings of Hybrid Cauliflower, Knol-Khol, Cabbage, Saag (kale) Khanyari, Exotic Vegetables viz. Broccoli, Lettuce, Red Cabbage, Chinese cabbage, Beetroot and Onion. The Director also acknowledged the positive role played by various Agri-entrepreneurs like Masarat Qaunsar of the Gulmarg Vegetable Farm who with the guidance and handholding of the Department of Agriculture have sold around 14,000 vegetable seedlings at the Organic Market set up by the Directorate of Agriculture at Lalmandi complex from the last two days and are doing a great job in catering to the demand of supplying quality seedlings.
Giving more details the Director Agriculture Kashmir informed the Hon’ble Advisor that Tomato, Brinjal, Chilli, Capsicum and other cucurbit seedlings would be distributed to the farmers from 05.04.2021.
While providing the details of the working of the Law enforcement wing of the Department, the Director Agriculture Kashmir apprised the Hon’ble Advisor that the Department is not keeping any stone unturned in checking the sale of spurious pesticides / sub-standard fertilizers/seeds and market checking has been intensified with the constitution of Special Market checking squad.
He also informed the Hon’ble Advisor that since April 2020, 3060 No. of pesticide, Fertilizer and Seed samples have been drawn out of which 48 samples were found sub-standard, subsequently 04 FIRs have been lodged during this year. He also informed the Hon’ble Advisor that 17258 Kg/Litres of pesticides and 11 MT of sub-standard fertilizers have been seized and a fine of Rs. 85000 has been recovered from the erring dealers.

KR Desk