Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 11: Minister for Agriculture, Ghulam Nabi Lone Hanjura has said that bee-keeping, mushroom cultivation and organic farming can be vibrant sources of employment and income-generation especially for women in Jammu and Kashmir. He, however, stressed the need of adopting making technological interventions besides creating awareness among the farmers.
The Minister was addressing the farmers and concerned extension functionaries after inaugurating 1-day Conference-cum-Mela at Krishi Bhawan, here on bee-keeping, mushroom cultivation and organic farming.
Vice-Chairman J&K State Board for Development of Kissans, Daljit Singh Chib, Financial Commissioner, Agriculture Production Department, Pramod Jain, Director Agriculture Jammu A. K. Malhotra, Director Extension, SKUAST, Jammu Dr. K.S. Risam, Director Sericulture, Dr Farooq Malik, Director Law Enforcement Sushil Sahni and other senior scientists and officers from the SKUAST, National Horticulture Board, NABARD, KVIB, progressive farmers and entrepreneurs in Apiculture, Mushrooms, Organic Farming, representatives of Service Providing Agencies in Organic Farming, officers and Staff of the Department attended the conclave.
The Minister said that this unique tri-sectoral conclave is first of its kind in the State and will help adopt simultaneously as well as individually and add to the income as well as to the value of the agricultural entrepreneurs in quality food products.
Maintaining that the Government has given emphasis to the agriculture and allied sectors, the Minister said that several Centrally Sponsored and State Sector Schemes including Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bhima Yojna (PMFBY) and Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayi Yojana (PMKSY) have been introduced in the State in order to increase agriculture production.
He further said that a Model Basmati Village in Suchetgarh area of Jammu District has been launched and similarly Apple and Saffron Villages have also been launched in Kashmir.
The Minister said that Ramban district has been identified as Model Apiculture Village for which Detailed Project Report has been framed and the work on the project will be started soon.
The Minister called for setting up of Bee-keeping and Mushroom Societies and Self Help Groups, adding that these Societies will help the Bee-keeping and Mushroom unit holders in financing and marketing for their produce.
He said the Government would also focus on revival of Agro Industries Sector while giving boost to vegetable, mushroom, apiculture and protected cultivation through innovative measures.
Earlier, Hanjura inspected the stalls of exhibition displayed by different sections of apiculture, mushroom and organic farming where exhibits, products, literature, pamphlets, machinery equipments live and tools were displayed.
Responding to the demands including transportation during migration of Bee-Keepers, providing of subsidy and marketing put forth by the farmers, the Minister assured them that their genuine demands would be looked into.
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