SRINAGAR: Director Agriculture Kashmir, Sartaj Ahmad Shah, on Thursday inaugurated the sale of onion seedlings at the Kitchen Garden, Lalmandi, Srinagar, marking the beginning of the department’s vegetable seedling distribution programme for the Rabi season.
Speaking at the event, Shah said the department is making consistent efforts to attract more farmers and kitchen garden enthusiasts towards the vegetable sector to boost local production and profitability. “In the first phase, onion seedlings are being distributed among farmers. The department is producing seedlings of different vegetable crops in hi-tech polyhouses under controlled conditions across all districts of Kashmir,” he said.
The Director added that the distribution will be carried out in a phased manner to ensure that produce reaches markets at the right time, enabling farmers to earn maximum returns. He emphasized that the department is producing seedlings in line with market demand, ensuring that farmers grow crops with strong commercial potential.
Expressing satisfaction with the department’s performance, Shah said the seedling distribution targets for various vegetable crops have already been met. “We are working to bring maximum area under cultivation during the Rabi season,” he said, adding that a comprehensive strategy has been formulated to link farmers with market chains and ensure efficient distribution of their produce.
Highlighting the importance of quality inputs, Shah reiterated the department’s commitment to producing high-quality vegetable seedlings, noting that “quality seedlings play a vital role in the overall success of agricultural enterprises.”
The Director was accompanied by the Joint Director Agriculture (Extension) Kashmir, the Seed Production Officer Kashmir, and other senior officials of the department during the launch event.
