Sir,
This has reference to the editorial’Augument agriculture’ (DE, March 10,2016).
There is no doubt that agriculture is the mainstay of the economy of our state and a large number of people depend on agriculture and allied sectors for the sustenance of their lives.But it is sad that many farmers of our state are not adopting new methods and latest technologies of agrarian activities with the result that we have not been harvesting as much produce as is harvested by the farmers of the developed countries in the western world.We have two Agricultural universities in our state, which need to focus on researches in agriculture and horticulture to develop seeds and saplings of the fruit trees which are suitable to local climatic conditions.As majority of our agriculture is rainfed and dependent on monsoon rains,the reasearch needs to be conducted to develop varieties which can withstand long spells of draught,unseasonal rains etc.
There is also need to open more soil testing laboratories so that more and more farmers can get their soil tested and grow the varieties which are suitable to the health of the particular soil.The farmers need to be made aware about the modern and better methods of agriculture by organising visits of agricultural scientists to the villages.They must be enlightened about the use of right fertilizer and pesticides at the right time and in right quantity. The Enforcement Wing in the Agricuture Department should exercise strict quality control on the sale of fertilizers,insecticides, seeds etc and ensure that spurious fertilizers/ pesticides are not sold to the farmers.Similarly, the department of agriculture in collaboration with the agriculture universities ought to take measures to promote horticulture and floriculture by focussing research on developing varieties of fruit trees and flowers which can resist climatic fluctuations.More and more farmers must also be motivated to adopt allied sectors of agriculture such as sericulture,pisciculture, dairy farming,poultry farming etc.as means to earn their livelihood and improve their standard of living.
Efforts too need to be made to aware the farming community about the initiatives such as crop insurance,kisan credit cards,subsidy on seeds,aimed at encouraging them to adopt innovative agricultural practices.Last but not least,efforts must also be made for marketing of the produce,especially fruts and vegetables to big cities and abroad so that the agricultural sector is invigorated and our farmers can get good price for their produce and better their standard of living.
Yours etc….
Ashok Sharma,
Udhampur
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