Agriculture Deptt Kashmir organises cleanliness, plantation drive
GANDERBAL: Director Agriculture Kashmir, Chowdhary Mohammad Iqbal on Tuesday visited Model Lavender Farm Nunner Ganderbal and took a tour of different blocks of the farm.
The Director was briefed by the concerned Farm Manager, Technical Experts about different aromatic, medicinal plants cultivated in the farm. Various latest interventions adopted and introduced during the cultivation of aromatic and medicinal plants were also brought into the notice of visiting Director Agriculture.
Speaking on the occasion, the Director marked the economic importance of ornamental and medicinal plants in the overall development of the agriculture ecosystem. He said there is a vast potential in this sector. Department has a floriculture development scheme for strengthening this sector in the valley, he further said.
Iqbal said the cultivation of aromatic and medicinal plants on commercial lines and participation of educated youth in this allied wing could help in achieving the economic security to the concerned farming families. He said Kashmir being one of the best tourist destinations in the country has immense opportunities for the marketing of ornamental plants and floriculture products therefore the Department is endeavouring to attract more and more farmers towards the cultivation of ornamental and medicinal plants.
Chief Agriculture Officer Ganderbal, Shahnawaz Ahmad Shah and other officers of the farm were present on the occasion.
Meanwhile, as part of the ‘Swachhta Pakhwada’ initiative, the Agriculture Department Kashmir today conducted a comprehensive cleanliness and plantation drive at Lalmandi, Srinagar.
The event was aimed to sensitize the staff with respect to the environmental issues and importance of cleanliness and plantation initiative.
On the occasion, a number of saplings were planted contributing to the beautification and greening of the area.
The plantation drive was held in the lawns of floriculture development scheme.
Director Agriculture Kashmir, Chowdhury Mohammad Iqbal inaugurated the drive by planting the saplings. He expressed happiness and appreciated the officers/officials of the department for the proactive participation in the Swachhta related activities of the department.
He exhorted the staff to follow the best practices not only to keep the campus, labs, and offices clean, but also adopt the cleanliness in all walks of their lives.
Similar functions were conducted in all district, subdivision and zonal offices of the department.