Excelsior Correspondent
GANDERBAL, June 17: The Department of Agriculture, Kashmir Division, organized a Mega Kissan Mela at Madr-e-Meharban Stadium here today in which thousands of progressive farmers of Kangan, Lar, Ganderbal and Wakura blocks participated.
Minister for Agriculture Production, Mr. Ghulam Hassan Mir inaugurated the day long Mela while as Minister of State for Agriculture, Nazir Ahmed Gurezi attended the function.
Speaking on the occasion, Mir said that the aim of such Kissan Melas is that the farmers should avail optimum benefits from such events to enhance their income by adopting latest technologies, besides the expertise being provided to them from time to time.
The Minister said vast scope of employment opportunities lie in Agriculture and its allied sectors but need of the hour is to create awareness among the farmers. He said that strategy adopted by the Agriculture Department is to increase the production and productive of the crops and to enable farmers to diversify their crop production, so as to take advantage of market opportunities.
Mr. Mir said that the mission of the Government is to achieve target growth rate for agriculture sector by improving agri-production through various intervention and improving income level of farmers by successful implementation of various schemes and programmes.
The Minister stressed upon the officers to ensure food security of the State by enhancing productive and production of crops and also make agriculture a sustainable economic activity for the farmers.
While addressing the gathering, Minister of State for Agriculture, Nazir Ahmed Gurezi said that main role of the department is to help farmers to adopt better technology and to facilitate establishment of infrastructure for farm production and marketing. He said new avenues are also being explored for investment.
Mr. Gurezi said that Government has launched various welfare schemes for upliftment of the farmers. He stressed upon them to come forward and avail the benefits of the schemes like RKVVY, Vegetable initiative for urban cluster, ISOPOM, Technology Mission and ATMA.
The Director Agriculture Kashmir, Peerzada Mushtaq Ahmad highlighted the activities of the department.
Earlier, the Ministers went around the stalls setup by the department and its allied sectors where different varieties seeds were kept available for the farmers besides various kinds of agriculture imputes.
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