SRINAGAR: The Director Agriculture Kashmir, Chowdhury Mohammad Iqbal, today inaugurated three semi-hi-tech polyhouses worth Rs 1.66 Lakh under Capex budget at Takanwaripora, zone Qamarwari district Srinagar, wherein Rs. 1 lakh subsidy was provided to the beneficiaries.
The Semi Hi-tech Polyhouses would benefit the farmers of zone Qamarwari and other areas of the Srinagar district.
Speaking on the occasion, Choudhary said that the department is working robustly not only to fulfill the local demands for fresh vegetables during the winter season but also to cater to the requirements of the Jammu region as well.
He said the department is increasing the number of Hi-tech polyhouses in all the districts of the Kashmir division aiming to provide fresh vegetables during the winter months.
He said that the cropping intensity in the Kashmir division is already 250 and efforts are on to raise it up to 300. He said the vegetable farmers who under open conditions raise three crops in a year, with the help of hi-tech polyhouses are able to produce five crops in a year.
With the result not only the cropping intensity, production and productivity is increased but the income of the farmers also gets significantly increased, he said, and added that this also helps to generate employment opportunities as well.
Director Agriculture said that these days some of the vegetables are undergoing harvesting, in this direction the department has already adopted a vibrant marketing model wherein the marketing facilities are provided to such farmers at their fields.
He said these vegetables, on one hand, cater to the local markets and on the other hand feed Jammu markets also.
Chowdhury Iqbal said that we are regularly taking feedback from the farming community, the suggestions received are worked upon and the issues raised are addressed on a priority based.
During the visit, Dir was informed by Chief Agriculture Officer Mohammad Younis Chowdhury that the department was receiving a good response from the farmers for increasing the number of Semi Hi-Tech Polyhouses in the area.
Director was accompanied by Chief Agriculture Officer Srinagar Mohammad Younis Chowdhury, Sub-division Agriculture Officer Srinagar Tariq Ahmad Mir, and Agriculture Extension Officer Qamarwari Mohammad Ashraf Shah.
