KUPWARA: Landlocked Karnah Sub division of Kupwara district is presenting a scintillating look these days due to its blossoming fields as rabi crops are in the final stage of ripening and will be harvested soon.
Farmers of Karnah valley, where most of the area falls in the Sub-tropical agricultural Zone, are reaping good dividends as they have turned to double cropping.
Farmers are leaving no stone unturned to take the benefits of conducive and favourable temperatures and timely interventions of Agriculture schemes.
Farmers in consultation with agriculture experts have switched to double cropping to take maximum benefits from their fields.
Today’s farmer community is well-informed and educated, they have realized that they have to become self-sufficient in the agriculture sector to counter the skyrocketing prices of edible oils and vegetables.
Most of the farmers of Chamkote, Chiterkote, Teetwal, Dringla, Drugad, Gundi-Gujjaran, Gundi Sayedan, Chanipora, Dildar, and Kandi have now switched to the cultivation of Mustard oil seeds. Apart from this they grow Oats, Wheat, Peas, Onion, Garlic, Cabbage, Carrot, Radish, Knol-khol, and other varieties of organic vegetables to meet the local demands as prices of edible oils and vegetables are continuously skyrocketing.
Adopting double cropping on modern lines, farmers of Karnah have become an inspiration for other areas of Kupwara as farmers are fully utilizing both Rabi and Kharif agricultural seasons and getting full dividends from their fields.
In most areas of Karnah valley, during the Rabi season (which starts in October and lasts up to May), farmers cultivate Oats, Mustard, Wheat, Peas, Onion, Garlic, and other varieties of vegetables. In the Kharif season, they grow Rice, Maize, and pulses.
Farmers are taking a keen interest in Mustard and organic vegetable cultivation for the past two years in the Rabi season as the agriculture area under Mustard and vegetable cultivation is increasing day by day.
“This year, Karnah is witnessing increased mustard and vegetable cultivation because the reasons the price of edible oils and vegetables have soared,” farmers said while hailing the efforts of Deputy Commissioner, Kupwara Dr. Doifode Sagar Dattatray, who has streamlined the agriculture department in the district.
The agriculture department in Karnah is working very hard to revive mustard and vegetable cultivation.
National Mission on Oil seed is also helping farmers to revive Mustard cultivation in the Rabi season in the Karnah subdivision. The Agriculture Department is giving several incentives to the farmers who switch to double cropping.
Chamkote and Chitterkote villages of Karnah are leading in vegetable production and producing fresh organic vegetables for other villages of Karnah during the Rabi season which is a major positive sign in the agriculture sector.
Besides citrus fruits like Lemon and oranges are being grown in villages like Teetwal, Seemari, and Dragged.
Zahoor Ahmad Lone, Agriculture Extension Officer, Tangdhar said that the Agriculture department is working on a mission mode to motivate farmers so that farmers adopt double cropping on modern scientific lines.
“With the help of the National Mission on Oil-Seed, we are making efforts to revive and priorities Mustard oil seed cultivation. We provide high-yielding seeds of Mustard to farmers on subsidized rates through our agricultural zonal stores,” A.E.O said.
He added, “We continuously impart awareness and training to farmers to go for double cropping on modern scientific lines, besides we undertake regular field visits so that in coming years not an inch of farmland remains fallow in Karnah during Rabi season.”
