Srinagar: Director Agriculture Kashmir Chowdhury Mohammad Iqbal on Tuesday inaugurated distribution of compost among the mushroom farmers at integrated mushroom development centre Lalmandi Srinagar.

Speaking to the mushroom farmers, Director Agriculture highlighted the importance of small scale agri-based cottage industries for the sustainability of agriculture sector. He said the department is committed to promote SSCIs in kashmir.

“A farmer who is operating an agri-based cottage industry like mushroom cultivation could easily supplement the income raised from selling crops,” he said.

Chowdhury Iqbal said that the agri-based college industries like mushroom cultivation, apiculture etc has vast potential to generate employment opportunities for educated youth, rural people, unskilled people and women farmers.

Director Agriculture asked the educated youth of the valley to come forward and join hands with the department, so that they could become agri-entrepreneurs and contribute to the overall agriculture economy in touching new heights. Besides other officers, Mushroom Specialist Madhan Gopal Singh was present on the occasion.

KR Desk