ANANTNAG, APRIL 13: Additional Chief Secretary (ACS), Agriculture Production Department, Atal Dulloo, today inaugurated “Sarson Utsav” besides launching Kharif Campaign-2023. The Agriculture Department Kashmir celebrated the utsav at Subhanpora, Arwani Bijbehara. In his address, ACS said that the department has been working on a blue print from last more than two years to bring more and more areas under the cultivation of oilseeds (mustard).. In this regard, this year more than 1 lakh 40 thousand hectares of land has been brought under oilseed cultivation. Atal Dulloo said that to minimize dependence on import of edible oils from other parts of the country, the department has planned a program under national oilseed mission wherein a number of incentives including distribution of free seed, technical assistance, farm machines are being introduced to promote and strengthen cultivation of oilseed (mustard) in the region. ‘This year we are expecting a bumper oil seed crop which will contribute towards socio economic transformation of farming community of the region besides generating employment opportunities for the educated youth of the UT’, he added. ACS highlighted the importance of value addition of oilseed (mustard) saying that the department is endeavouring to promote it as a brand. He said that under recently approved holistic agriculture development program special attention is being given to development of oilseed cultivation in the region. Atal Dulloo said that oilseed crop has created agri-tourism opportunities in Kashmir valley which has contributed to the increasing tourist footfall in the region. He said that the department has already introduced a marketing model for the agriculture crops and other agri products. The farmers are being provided the best possible marketing options for their produce at their door steps so that they could fetch maximum possible returns for their produce, he added. While talking about the start of Kharif campaign, ACS said that the department is taking all the efforts to ensure that maximum area is brought under cultivation of kharif crops and farmer’s income is increased. Atal Dulloo asked the field staff to reach out to the farmers and make efforts to achieve the objective of socio-economic transformation of farming community through implementation of schemes like , soil health card scheme, pradhan mantri fasal bima yojana, pradhan mantra kisan scheme, pradhan mantra krishi sinchaye yojana, farm mechanization etc. ACS appreciated the role of PRI’s for working as a bridge between the department and the farming community in ensuring successful implementation of departmental schemes. Speaking on the occasion, Director Agriculture impressed upon the concerned officers to increase awareness among the farming community of the region regarding various flagship programs and schemes being implemented by the department in the division. He asked the officers to guide the farming community during all the pre and post harvest operations of the oilseed crop. Deputy Commissioner Anantnag, Dr. Basharat Qayoom, Director General, Sheep Husbandry Department, Bashir Ahmad Khan, Director General, Animal Husbandry Department Purnima Mittal, Director General, Sericulture Manzoor Ahmad Qadri, Director Horticulture, G.R.Mir, Director Fisheries, Farooq Ahmad Dar, Managing Director JKHPMC Imam Din, Secretary Kisan Board Abdul Hameed, Deputy and other senior officers were present on the occasion. Earlier, Atal Dulloo formally inaugurated the Kharif Campaign in village Gulzarpora Pulwama. He also inaugurated procurement centre for oilseed at Lethpora Pampore. Deputy Commissioner Pulwama, Baseer Ul Haq Chowdhary, Director Agriculture Kashmir Chowdhary Mohammad Iqbal and other officers of Agriculture and allied departments were present on the occasion.
