Bandipora August 09:(KNS) Director Agriculture Kashmir Altaf Aijaz Andrabi visited Bandipora district to take review of various ongoing developmental programs taken up by the department in the district. Director took review with Chief Agriculture Officer and other district officers at Mini Secretariat Bandipora where a detailed feedback regarding progress of central sponsored schemes / Capex (Physical / Financial), Status of physical achievements made under different schemes, status of Mushroom / Apiculture Development works, progress of soil conservation works, progress under soil health card scheme, latest status of KCC/PM-Kissan/ PMKMY scheme was taken.
During the visit Director inspected Soil Testing Laboratory Watpora. Speaking on the occasion Director said besides mobile soil testing vans department has established 10 soil testing laboratories at all District Headquarters and are fully operational. As infrastructure is readily available the testing is done free of cost. Soil testing samples are collected from farmers’ field by Agriculture Field Functionaries who submit the same to the nearest STL. Farmers can also bring samples directly and hand over the same to the STLs. STLs test the samples in the lab for evaluation of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, EC and pH balance. The results are reported to the concerned farmers in the form of a soil health card with the advice to apply specific doses of nutrients.
Later Director visited Vegetable Seed Multiplication Farm Watpora and while interacting with Farmers and Officials working at farm said, vegetables have been identified as the focus areas in Kashmir and area expansion is being taken on a large scale therefore is proving to be a game changer in the economic sustainability of farmers associated with it. The returns have been exceptional and are proving to be heartening.
During the visit director stressed upon the officers and field functionaries of the department to aware the farmers and growers with the latest technologies and farmer welfare schemes launched by the department for the welfare of farmers, so that they can avail these schemes and get benefitted. Director was accompanied by Joint Director Agriculture inputs Amir udinn Andrabi, Joint Director Agriculture Extension Chowdhary Mohammad Iqbal, Project Coodinator Mushrooms Farooq Ahmad Shah, Deputy Director Agriculture Central Syed Waseem Ahmad Shah, Chief Agriculture Officer Bandipora and other officers of the district.(KNS)