SRINAGAR: The Director Agriculture Kashmir, Chowdhary Mohammad Iqbal today visited Seed Multiplication Farm (SMF) Sirhama and monitored the activities carried out at the farm.
On the occasion, the Director appreciated the official staff of the said farm for their hard work in bringing change in the farm and also for the bumper lavender crop.
He inspected different blocks of the farm and was briefed by the concerned Farm Manager, Technical Experts about different aromatic, medicinal plants cultivated on the farm. Various latest interventions adopted and introduced during the cultivation of aromatic and medicinal plants were also brought to the notice of the Director.
Speaking on the occasion, the Director marked the economic importance of ornamental and medicinal plants in the overall agriculture ecosystem. He said there is a vast potential in this sector and the department has a floriculture development scheme for strengthening this sector in the valley.
Iqbal said the cultivation of aromatic and medicinal plants on commercial lines and the participation of educated youth in this allied wing could help in achieving economic security for the concerned farming families.
He said that Kashmir being one of the best tourist destinations in the country has immense opportunities for the marketing of ornamental plants and floriculture products therefore the Department is endeavoring to attract more and more farmers to the cultivation of ornamental and medicinal plants.