Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 15: Union Minister of State for Chemical & Fertilizers, Mansukh L. Mandaviya today convened a review meeting regarding supply and availability of fertilizers in Jammu and Kashmir.
Secretary, Agriculture Production Department, J&K Manzoor Ahmed Lone, Director Fertilizer Movement (FM), GOI, Harvinder Singh, Director Agriculture, Jammu, (Controller Fertilizer J&K), P. S. Rathore, Director Law Enforcement, J & K, A. R. Samoon were also present on the occasion.
Stressing on the importance of inculcating sustainable and organic agricultural practices in farmers, the Minister said ‘the indiscriminate and un-judicious use of Chemical Fertilizers is harmful for the health of humans as well as animals. It is essential that government actively supports farmers to shift to organic practices that will not only yield healthy crop but also help improve structure and quality of the soil and increase its ability to hold water and nutrients.’
For this, he asked the department to actively promote use of organic/bio-fertilizers in the state. He also asked the department to engage with agriculture experts to identify sustainable ways for adoption of need based technology in farm sector.
Taking note of the issues pertaining to supply of fertilizer in the state, the Minister said avenues will be explored to set up storage facilities for fertilizer to create buffer stock of fertilizer to ensure no shortages during peak demand seasons. He said that the demands for opening of additional Rake Points and for developing infrastructure at existing rake points will be taken under consideration.
The Minister also directed officers of the State Agriculture Production Department and the Fertilizer Supplying Companies to adhere to the guidelines and deadlines to bring transparency in the fertilizer business and to ensure timely supply of quality fertilizers to the farmers.
The meeting was also attended by Joint Director (Inputs), Kashmir, Deepak Kuchroo, Joint Director of Agriculture (Extension) Anil Arora, Chief Agriculture Officer Reasi O.S. Choudhary, State Manager, NFL, Prem Lal, State Manager, CFCL, Manish Jain, State Manager, IPL other senior officers.
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