Ganderbal: Secretary, Agriculture Production Department, Nitu Gupta on Friday participated in the ‘Khet Bachao Abhiyan’ programme at Wakura in Ganderbal district, emphasising the need for sustainable agriculture and soil conservation.
The programme, organised by the Chief Agriculture Officer, Ganderbal, brought together farmers, agricultural experts and officials from agriculture and allied departments to promote scientific farming practices, government welfare schemes and measures aimed at protecting agricultural land and soil fertility.
On the occasion, Director Agriculture Kashmir Sartaj Ahmad Shah presented an overview of the agricultural landscape of Ganderbal and highlighted various developmental initiatives being undertaken for the welfare of the farming community.
Addressing the gathering, Gupta underscored the importance of maintaining soil health through scientific nutrient management and environmentally sustainable farming practices. She urged farmers to adopt natural and climate-resilient agricultural methods to enhance productivity while preserving ecological balance.
She said the long-term sustainability of agriculture depends on healthy soils and stressed the need for balanced fertiliser application, reduced dependence on excessive chemical inputs and wider adoption of sustainable farming practices to ensure food security for future generations.
The Secretary also highlighted the importance of effective implementation of farmer-centric schemes and called for greater awareness among farmers to improve agricultural incomes and strengthen the rural economy. She encouraged them to take full advantage of support available under various Central and UT government programmes.
During the programme, Gupta interacted with farmers and listened to their concerns and suggestions regarding agricultural development and service delivery.
As part of the campaign, Soil Health Cards were distributed among farmers to promote informed nutrient management and improve crop productivity. Awareness sessions were also conducted on natural farming, organic farming, the National Mission on Edible Oils (NMEO), Kisan Credit Card (KCC), PM-KISAN, Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana and the balanced use of fertilisers.
The programme was attended by the Deputy Director Law Enforcement Kashmir, Head of Krishi Vigyan Kendra Ganderbal, Deputy Director Horticulture Kashmir, Chief Agriculture Officer Ganderbal, officers from agriculture and allied departments, and a large number of farmers from Wakura and adjoining areas.
