SRINAGAR 04 MAY (KNS): Director Agriculture Kashmir Chowdhary Mohammad Iqbal visited Seed Multiplication Farm Padgampora Pulwama where he inaugurated the Dapog/ MAT Nursery Technology for the preparation of Paddy Nurseries. Dapog/Mat Nursery Technology seedlings are established in a layer of soil mix, arranged on a farm surface (concrete floor/ Polythene sheet/ seedling trays) seedlings are ready for planting within 14-20 days after seeding thus saving time.
On the occasion, while interacting with the concerned officers and technical the staff of the farm Director Agriculture highlighted the importance of the introduction of real-time technologies in the cultivation of paddy and other agriculture crops.
Director Agriculture said that Rice is the most important staple food in the region and our challenge is that the land resource is decreasing with every passing day because of various obvious reasons and we have the responsibility to feed the ever-increasing population. He said therefore the only way forward is that we introduce modern technologies/varieties and increase not only the production but also the productivity of paddy and other crops.
Director Agriculture said that good quality seed is the foundation for the successful cultivation of a crop and finally leads to the socio economic transformation of the farming community. He said the Department is making all possible efforts to ensure the availability of high-quality seeds (produced from the Department’s Seed Multiplication Farms) to the farmers well in time.
Earlier Manager Seed Multiplication Farm Padgampora Mr Ajaz Ahmad gave a detailed presentation of various activities and programs being executed in the concerned farm.
During the tour, Director inspected the Mushroom Demonstration cum Training Centre at Pulwama and also interacted with the mushroom growers of the area.
He congratulated the officers and officials of the DCTC for providing training and technical guidance to the growers. He stressed upon Chief Agriculture Officer Pulwama to explore marketing avenues for the mushroom growers.
Later Chowdhary Iqbal visited different Fertilizer, Pesticide Dealers and Sales outlets of different agriculture inputs in the Pulwama district.
During the visit, Director said the Department has intensified the market checking across the Union Territory to regulate the availability of fertilizers and pesticides. The checking squads in all the districts impose a fine on the erring fertilizer/pesticide dealers under relevant acts. The Department has tightened noose against the erring dealers and warned them of action under the law for resorting to black marketing and overpricing of fertilizers/pesticides, he added.
The Director Agriculture Kashmir was accompanied by Deputy Director Law Enforcement Mohammad Younis Chowdhary, Chief Agriculture Officer Pulwama Ghulam Mohammad Dhobi, District Agriculture Officer M. Munaff Bhat and other senior officers of the district.(KNS)