Srinagar, January 02:(KNS) Director Agriculture Kashmir Chowdhary Mohammad Iqbal today initiated the seed sowing of different hybrid vegetable seeds under controlled conditions at Kitchen Garden Lalmandi, Srinagar. Director while expressing his views on the occasion highlighted the need of adopting modern and smart agricultural practices with latest trends, to earn more remuneration for betterment of farming community.
Chowdhary said the hybrid/open pollinated seedlings are grown under controlled environmental conditions with complete hygiene and disease free atmosphere. Interacting with the officers on the occasion,
Director Agriculture said that department is committed to promote the Kitchen Garden Scheme, and aims at providing quality vegetable seedlings in advance season to achieve self-sufficiency in vegetables. He said that the department is providing quality and healthy seedlings, which reduces the cost of cultivation in terms of different inputs, including pesticides and fertilizers, and therefore, makes vegetable cultivation remunerative venture.
Director Agriculture Kashmir impressed upon the officers to promote the kitchen garden scheme so that the growers get more and more benefits from this scheme. He said vegetable production not only contributes to the daily consumption of big population, but it can be adopted for commercial purpose as well. He said vegetable cultivation has a good potential of employment generation and the unemployed youth of the Valley with the help of modern technology and suitable agro-climatic conditions for vegetable cultivation in the Valley, can take it to new heights.
Later Director took a round of vegetable seedling nursery and Floriculture section of the department and interacted with the officers, He appreciated the work done under these schemes and asked the concern to redouble their efforts in reaching out to the farming community by making seedling available to them well in time.

Director was accompanied by Floriculture Development Officer Fida Iqbal, Seed Production Officer M. A. Shah, Kitchen Garden In charge M. Altaf Bhat and other concern officers. (KNS)