In order to thrive local Kashmiri Lal Mirchi variety for gaining
maximum attraction , an incentive of Rs. 0.25 Lac is being given to the farmers/ Director Agriculture Kashmir

Srinagar July 16: (KNS)  To discuss the performance, achievements under CAPEX and CSS Director Agriculture Kashmir Chowdhary Mohammad Iqbal took a review meeting of district Srinagar at meeting hall Agriculture Complex Lalmandi today.

The meeting held thread bare discussion on progress under Soil Health Card Schemes, latest status of KCC/PM-KISSAN/ PM-KMY Scheme, status of registration of new FPOs viz a viz submission of DPRs, status of Kharief crops 2021, implementation of Road Map adopted for supply of quality pesticides and the vegetable sector of Srinagar district. Speaking on the occasion Director Agriculture highlighted the need for area expansion under exotic vegetables crops. He stressed upon the officers of Srinagar district to introduce new exotic vegetables like: Brocolli, lettuce and Parsley, which will significantly enhance the real income of farming
community.

Director instructed the officers, to take steps for boosting cultivation of Kashmiri Lal Mirch on a large scale so that the socio economic status of the farming community is increased. He informed Chief Agriculture Officer Srinagar that an incentive of Rs. 0.25 Lac per Ha has already been earmarked by the Government for the growers, in order to thrive this local variety for gaining maximum attraction towards its cultivation.

Director instructed the Chief Agriculture Officer to devise a strategy in popularizing kitchen gardening trend in the urban areas of Srinagar city, explore new possibilities by providing hybrid vegetable seedlings, other agricultural inputs besides guidance so that maximum number of house holds of Srinagar city produces their daily consumable vegetables from their
backyards.
Chief Agriculture Officer Mohammad Younis Chowdhary on the occasion presented a detailed power point presentation regarding different activities being carried out in the field. He informed the meeting that during the year 2017-2019, Twenty (20) Hectares of Shunglipora village has been covered under organic vegetable cluster whereas in the year 2021-2022, Forth (40)
hectares of village Tengpora A&B are brought under organic vegetable cultivation covering 223 beneficiaries. He further informed that 60 Qtl of SR- III Paddy was procured from 3.33 hectares area under Seed Village during 2020 & target of 320 Qtl Paddy SR-IV is targeted to be procured during Kharief-2021 out of 16.5 hectares area.
Chief Agriculture Officer Srinagar further added that during the year 2020-21, 1514 Soil Health Cards have been distributed among the farmers of district Srinagar while as the target of 1500 Soil Health Cards for the year 2021-22 will be distributed among the farmers within stipulated time.

The meeting was attended by Joint Director Agriculture Extension Shahid Iqbal, Joint Director Agriculture Inputs Farooq Ahmad Shah, Joint Director Agriculture Marketing Mohammad Qasim Gani, Joint Director Agriculture Farms Dr. Syed Waseem Ahmad Shah, District Agriculture Officer Extension Asifa Nabi, Sub Divisional Agriculture Officer Srinagar and other
field functionaries of district Srinagar.

Earlier, in order to review month wise achievements/targets of the chemical fertilizers, present status of QR code and digital payment system, availability of chemical fertilizers in Kashmir Division, liquidation of stocks of fertilizers at whole sale and retailer level Director Agriculture Kashmir Chowdhary Mohammad Iqbal held a detailed meeting with the representatives of Chemical fertilizer companies operating in the valley.(KNS)