Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Nov 13: Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah today said that the tension at LoC and International Borders across Jammu and Kashmir directly impacts the tranquility and development process in the State and endangers life and property of residents living in the frontier.
“Ceasefire violations and shelling not only make the people leave their homes but severely hamper agricultural operations causing economic stress to border people”, he said.
Interacting with farmers at International Border near Chinore Farm some 25 kilometres from here, the Chief Minister expressed satisfaction over the status of ceasefire and hoped that it would continue for the larger interests of people particularly farmers residing in the frontier.
The Chief Minister also expressed hope that the two countries would resolve all issues through the process of dialogue and peacefully.
Omar Abdullah enquired the welfare of the people and received brief from them about the prevailing situation and the status of their agricultural operations. He gave directions to the Agriculture Department to provide all help to the border farmers for launch of successful agricultural operations. He asked the department to keep better seeds, fertilizers and other agricultural inputs adequately available to the agriculturists in the border areas.
He underscored the importance of quality seeds to raise per hectare yield and give fillip to agriculture production. He added that better seeds buttress both productivity and production resulting in economic upliftment of farmers.
Inspecting Seed Multiplication Farm, Chinore Chief Minister said that adequate production of breeder, foundation and certified seeds are significantly important to improve and upgrade cultivation of different varieties of cereals, vegetables, oilseeds etc.
The Chief Minister said that utilization of modern agricultural practices and new technology is need of the hour and farmers across the State should be made aware of this importance besides making them quality seeds, planting material and fertilizers available easily.
He said that horticulture and agriculture are strong sectors of economy in Jammu and Kashmir. He said that a large population of the State earns their livelihood from these sectors, as such, these require focused attention for growth and development. He said that his Government has made agriculture sector almost tax free besides initiating various measures to ameliorate the lot of farmers and catapult the State’s agro-economy.
Highlighting the importance of Seed Multiplication Farms, Omar Abdullah emphasized the need for further upgrading and strengthening the existing seed farms in the State besides encouraging educated youth towards this sector so that they earn their livelihood and help the agriculture sector to grow.
Minister for Agriculture, Ghulam Hassan Mir, Minister for Planning and Development, Ajay Sadhotra, and Minister of State for Agriculture, Nazir Ahmad Gurezi were accompanying the Chief Minister during his visit to Chinore Farm.
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