Srinagar, July 27: Director Agriculture Kashmir Chowdhary Mohammad Iqbal today, while chairing a meeting of senior officers of the Department, said that the Agriculture activities in the valley were encouraging and the sector stood strong during the Covid-19 pandemic.
“We have been able to maintain the availability of vegetables and other agricultural commodities in the valley for the local consumers and to send large consignments of vegetables to different markets in and outside the union territory which contributed to the UT economy”.
Chowdhary Iqbal said that the credit goes to the hard work of farmers, farmer friendly policies and the department’s working in close coordination with the farming community. He said the marketing models in consonance with the present demands introduced by the Department this year turned the tables so far as the profitable marketing is concerned. He said the mentioned are the reasons that agriculture sector in the valley not only stood strong amid unprecedented pandemic scenario but also contributed to the economy.
Iqbal said despite the constraints there was no shortfall of vegetables in the UT. He asked the officers of the Department to continuously work towards the improvement of socio economics of farming community. He highlighted the importance of exploring the new opportunities and avenues in agriculture sector He reiterated the importance of young educated and skilled farmers to the agriculture sector. Chowdhary directed the concerned officers to organize awareness campaigns for the students of colleges and universities to make them understand the present agriculture scenario and latest technologies, innovative interventions in the farming sector.
The meeting was attended by Joint Director Agriculture Inputs Farooq Ahmad Shah, Joint Director Agriculture Extension Shahid Iqbal, Joint Director Farms Dr. Syed Waseem Ahmad Shah, Joint Director Marketing M. Qasim Gani, Joint Director Apiculture and Mushrooms M. Syed Peer and other senior officers of the Department.
