Agriculture Department Keen to Promote Organic Farming in Kashmir

Since the dawn of the industrial age, technology has been lightening the burden of the farming sector and has enabled the farmers to adopt different methods and techniques for making the sector a sustainable means of livelihood and gainful employment. 

The favorable environmental conditions such as suitable temperature and easy availability of water make Jammu & Kashmir an apt place for organic farming, practiced all over the world as an optimal alternative to inorganic farming. With proper implementation and development of organic farming, this agriculture system has all the potential to become a lucrative and sustainable means of livelihood in Jammu and Kashmir. 

Chowdhary Muhammad Iqbal, Director Agriculture Kashmir, paid a visit to the Kulgam district in south Kashmir yesterday.

During his extensive visit, the Director inaugurated the Atomic Absorption Spectrometer (AAS) in Kulgam, the Rural Soil Testing Laboratory under soil health management CCS NMSA in D.H.Pora village, and the Custom Hiring Centre (CHC) in Katpora. He also inaugurated the renovated building for the office of Agriculture Assistant Inputs Kulgam and Enforcement Inspector Kulgam respectively. 

The Director also issued sanction letters for tractors and load carriers on subsidies among the specified CAPEX/SMAM beneficiaries. 

Speaking on the occasion, the Director emphasized the importance of the Department's several initiatives for the advancement of the region's agriculture sector. 

He stated that the department has fiercely promoted organic vegetable growing as it fulfills the objective of socioeconomic growth of the agricultural community in addition to being eco-friendly and ecologically sustainable. 

Iqbal stated that soil testing facilities are supplied to farmers within every district to order to monitor soil health and preserve it in the most productive state. 

Later, the Director visited Seed Multiplication Farm Allowpora to observe the department's different initiatives there. 

Speaking on the occasion, the Director marked the importance of different initiatives taken by the Department for the development of the agriculture sector in the region. 

He said that the department has taken up the initiative of promoting the organic way of vegetable cultivation vigorously as it serves the purpose of socio-economic development of the farming community besides being eco-friendly and ecologically sustainable. 

Director Agriculture was assisted by Deputy Director Agriculture Planning, Chief Agriculture Officer Kulgam, District Agriculture Officer, and other top department officials.