Srinagar: To redefine the role and responsibilities of the Agriculture Extension Machinery by suitably up-scaling the up-to-date technical knowhow of the field extension set up, Agriculture Production & Farmers Welfare Department Kashmir held a capacity building/training program at Srinagar.
Director Agriculture Kashmir Chowdhary Mohammad Iqbal inaugurated the program. While delivering his inaugural address Director highlighted the importance of zero budget/natural farming. He mentioned the Prime Minister’s seven point strategy for agriculture sector in which per drop more crop, soil based farming, effective system of cold chain and warehousing, enhancing value addition of farmers produce, National Farm Market, crop insurance and etc was elaborated.
Iqbal said the capacity building is a practice that tends to improve the range of skills and competencies among the officers. The Department is working to increase the efficiency and capacity building of the officers of the department so that they could deliver in an efficient way while implementing different flagship programs and schemes.
Chowdhary stressed upon the participants for understanding the importance of conducting this kind of programs which ultimately could bring the visible change on ground and could become a game changer in reviving the agriculture sector. He impressed upon the concerned to utilize the training contents with interest so as to update themselves with the latest agricultural interventions.
On the occasion Joint Directors and Chief Agriculture Officers rendered technical session to the officers & grass root extension functionaries of the district on different latest technical aspects relating to Agriculture. They also deliberated upon certain priority issues, schemes, guidelines and policies being implemented by the department and also delivered lectures on micro irrigation system, marketing of organic agriculture produce, mushroom/apiculture, management of farms, and on schemes like PM-KMY, NFSM, PM KISSAN, KCC, Soil Health Card, and other CSS Flagship programs.
Earlier Chief Agriculture Officer Srinagar Mohammad Younis Chowdhary welcomed the participating officers in today’s capacity building program and thanked them for making the program success. Pertinently today’s program was organized by the Chief Agriculture Office Srinagar.
The capacity building program was attended by Joint Director Agriculture Engineering Kashmir Alyas Khateeb, Joint Director Agriculture Extension Kashmir Sheikh Shahid Iqbal, Joint Direct Apiculture and Mushroom Development Kashmir Mohammad Syed Peer, Joint Director Agriculture Farms Dr. Syed Waseem Ahmad Shah, Joint Director Agriculture Marketing Mohammad Qasim Gani, ,Joint Director Agriculture Inputs Farooq Ahmad Bhat, Deputy Director Planning Mohammad Younis Chowdhary, Agriculture Chemist Kashmir Tabassum Naaz, Chief Agriculture Officers of Kashmir Division, Deputy Director Law Enforcement Javed Ahmad Samoon, Agriculture Information Officer Sheikh Imran, Divisional Seed Certification Officer Mir Aijaz Hassan besides officers of the district Srinagar.

KR Desk