SRINAGAR, MAY 12 (KNS): The Director Agriculture Kashmir, Chowdhury Mohammad Iqbal today visited Kunzar, Tangmarg areas of Baramulla District and inaugurated an Interaction  programme for the apiarists  or bee keepers of the said areas.

Addressing the event, Director Agriculture highlighted the importance of small scale agriculture cottage industries like Bee Keeping/ Apiculture  and mushroom cultivation for small and marginal farmers. He asked the farmers to go for diversification in agriculture activities. He said that diversification contributes to the economic security of the farming community against changes in Climate and Soil resources.

Director Agriculture said multi-crore projects have been approved by the government under Holistic Agriculture Development Programme (HADP) for the promotion of apiculture  in  the UT of J&K. He said the promotion of apiculture and mushroom  are among the 29 projects recently approved after being recommended by the UT level apex Committee for holistic agriculture development programme.

Chowdhury Iqbal assured the concerned farmers of every possible technical support from the department. He asked the concerned officers to put in all the efforts for the successful implementation of different programme aimed to promote  the agriculture activities like apiculture and mushroom among the small and marginal farmers of the region. 

He also marked the importance of raising the awareness among the farmers regarding the Apiculture/ Mushroom Centric Schemes & programmes so that more and more educated youth could be attracted towards these enterprises.

Director Agriculture assured bee keepers of different facilitates including marketing facilities so that they could fetch maximum returns for their produce. He said that their genuine issues would be addressed on priority basis.

Joint Director Agriculture Inputs Mohammed Younis Chowdhury, DDC Kunzer Nazir Ahmad Shaikh, Tehsildar Kunzar, SDAO Tangmarg, Apiculture Development officers Baramulla, AEO Kunzer and a large number of apiculturists  were present on the occasion.(KNS)