Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, May 25: District Development Commiss-ioner (DDC) Kupwara Khalid Jahangir today chaired interactive session regarding promotion of organic farm practices at grass root level in the district.
Among others, officers from Agriculture and Horticulture Departments, Animal Husbandry, Chief Planning Officer Kupwara and farmers of the district attended the interactive session.
DC suggested that an action plan should be prepared to include cultivation, processing, storage and marketing of organic vegetables and fruits on pilot basis in five villages viz Dedikote, Hajinar, Hatmulla, Khumriyal and Trehgam. He said that this can be replicated in other areas provided rich dividends in days ahead.
The chair while being apprised by the farmers present of various issues regarding organic farming, suggestions including application of organic fertilizers to enhance production, spreading awareness among people on the health benefits of organic vegetables and the consequences of consuming pesticide content vegetables, double cropping to ensure adequate supply of food for humans and fodder for domestic animals were put forth. The farmers demanded desilting of streams for smooth flow of water required for irrigation, vermicompost units for production of organic fertilizers and conducting of awareness campaigns to encourage farmers to adopt organic farming as a viable cost effective environment friendly alternative.
Speaking on the occasion, technical experts highlighted the benefits of organic farm practices.
DDC said that Kupwara with abundance of walnut trees has every potential to utilize natural resources like these for economic upliftment. Wood carving, one of the traditional art forms for which Valley is famous all over the world, can be adopted as a sustainable employment opportunity by the people of the district.
While responding to the issues raised by farmers present, DC suggested high density walnut plantation as an effective method towards harvesting rich dividends from this sector.
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