Reasi, Jan 22: According to a press statement, the Principal Secretary, Department of Agriculture Production and Farmer's Welfare Department, Navin Kumar Choudhary, today visited Reasi district to take stock of activities of the department of agriculture and allied sectors.

During the meeting, the Animal Husbandry Department highlighted their progress achieved during 2020-21 under different schemes.

Joint Director Agriculture and Family Welfare, Jammu, K K Sharma gave a detailed account of activities being undertaken by the department of Agriculture in the district. He also gave an account of lemon grass cultivation which has proved to be a boon to deal with the monkey menace suffered by farmers of the district.

The Principal Secretary emphasized the need of promoting spices cultivation in clusters in different blocks of the district besides helping farmers in online sale of their production through different state and national marketing agencies. He directed to increase the area under Lemon Grass cultivation besides stressing on integrated farming. He asked all department heads to meet on every Tuesday to discuss implementation of various programmes in the agriculture sector. He also directed the officers to create WhatsApp groups involving the farmers so that communication level is strengthened.

Choudhary directed Animal Husbandry Director to set up Milk Chilling Plant with 50% subsidy and also setting up a cattle feed unit at Katra.

District Development Commissioner, Indu Kanwal Chib, briefed about the activities being undertaken in the district including setting up of waste management system and other vital works of public benefit.

Earlier, Navin Choudhary conducted field visits including Anji Fish Farm to assess the status of various activities being undertaken by different departments. He also visited Sheep Husbandry Farm, Vijaypur and took stock of functioning there besides visiting the field of Ganga Ram, a progressive vegetable grower of Reasi who has achieved tremendous results in organic vegetable production. He also visited LemonGrass extension Plant at Sirah. He also took stock of progress on construction work of Soil Testing Laboratory at Seed Multiplication Farm, Granwala Reasi.

Meanwhile, he also inaugurated Mushroom Shed of Asha Devi at Panthal and also handed over Vending Cart to progressive farmers of Chakbhagta Prem Chand. He also inaugurated vermin-compost constructed by the Department of Agriculture, the statement added.