Leh,October 19 (Scoop News) – Minister for Agriculture Ghulam Hassan Mir Wednesday stressed upon the farmers to go in a big way for adopting protected cultivation in vegetables, farm mechanization and water harvesting as it is pivotal for boosting the agriculture activities in the Leh district
The Minister was addressing the farmers after inauguration of Kissan Mela-cum-exhibition here this morning.
MLC, Sanam Gialchan, Executive Councillor LAHDC, Leh for Tourism, Gurmeet Dorje, Executive Councilor health LAHDC Leh,Dr Sonam Wanchuk, Director Horticulture Kashmir, Ghulam Hassan Shah, Director Agriculture Kashmir, Dr Farooq Ahmad Lone, Director Command Area Development, Tariq Ahmad and DIG Kashmir, Abdul Gani Mir were present at the function.
The Minister said that the department would provide all technical assistance to the farmers for adopting protected cultivation for which he announced 45 poly green houses under state sector for its distribution among the farmers. He said that there is a dire need for introduction of protected cultivation in the area to make fresh vegetable available to the people round the year. In this connection, he said that 15 Hectors are being covered under vegetable extension programme in the district
Retreating that there is a huge potential of Horticulture and Vegetable production in the district, the Minister said in this direction the SKUAST–K has already worked on the project adding that the local climatic conditions are very much favorable for introducing it on commercial basis. He asked the farmers to come and take the benefit of these schemes launched by the government for popularizing the cultivation in this part of the world.
For having fresh vegetables and fruits available round the year for the land locked people of the region, the Minister said that a project worth Rs 15 crore has been formulated for cold storage facilities for the farmers of Leh and Kargil and would be send to Centre for approval soon under 13th Finance commission. He said the work on the project would be started from next fiscal. He also stressed upon the farmers for introducing farm mechanization in their fields and added that government is providing subsidy to the farmers on these machines which includes Power tillers, tractors and other machines.
Mir asked the farmers to construct water harvesting tanks in their fields for which the government provides Rs 1.03 lakh as subsidy to per tank per land holders.
Referring the requirement of fodder production in Leh, the Minister directed Director Agriculture to formulate a pasture development project in Changthang area of Leh for fodder so that required fund would be allocated for the same.
Appreciating the work of Command Area Development department after flash flood last year, the Minister directed them to formulate a comprehensive CAD project at the earliest so that it would be submitted to union government for approval. He asked for indentifying the areas for the upgradation of irrigation khuls under RKVY.
The Minister also distributed the awards among progressive farmers of the district. He assured that 100 progressive farmers would be send on agriculture tour outside the state shortly. He also said that 10 Hectares of land would also will be covered under organic farming for which department provide Rs 30 thousand as subsidy too farmers per hectare after certification
Earlier the Minister inspected the stalls setup by progressive farmers and different farmers to showcase their activities.
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