Srinagar, Aug 29: The Agriculture Department Kashmir has introduced maize and beans under its Seed Village Program with an aim at improving the socio-economic status of farmers through seed technological interventions.
To achieve the program goal, the agriculture department has devised several measures to support and encourage the growth of seeds under the program in the region which has also invited the attention of farmers.
Dr. Zeenat Banday, AEO, Department of Agriculture Kashmir, said earlier the Seed Village Program was confined to paddy only. However, this year, the department introduced two more varieties which include maize and beans.
“Where ever we turn the land into seed village the land should be at an isolated place so that neighbouring crops don’t get mixed. We give the seeds to the farmers at subsidy rates,” she said.
“For example we give them foundation seed as per the target. We take the patch of land which should be transportable and should have proper irrigation facilities,” Dr. Zeenat said.
When the farmers are involved in the seed village program, they get the seed on subsidized rates and then the department procures that seed from the farmers.
“We give them better rates. Until last year, we used to give them Rs 2300 per quintal of paddy seed. We give both urban and rural paddy varieties of maize to the farmers,” she said.
Dr. Zeenat said that once the seed is procured then seed is taken to processing at Seed Processing Unit Padgampora in south Kashmir and then it is packed and given to farmers.
Notably, it was only from this year only the Agriculture Department Kashmir introduced new varieties of maize and beans.
“People were more interested in the paddy. But now people have shown interest in maize and beans and we are sure that more and more farmers would be motivated for the same,” she said.
She said that under the Holistic Agriculture Development Program (HADP), the program is expected to witness drastic change as the government is planning to further promote the program. “This program is gaining a momentous feat in Kashmir,” she said.
Dr Zeenat said it was this year only the department shifted the offline registration process of farmers to online making it easy for the farmers to apply for the seed village program.
“We have some 24 farmers registered for the paddy variety. Similarly, in maize there are 27 farmers registered and for beans there is one farmer registered for the same program,” she said.
She said that the Seed Village Scheme is meant for improving the socio-economic status of farmers through seed technological intervention and to improve the quality of farmers’ saved seed through use of different seed enhancement techniques.
“It also aims to ensure disease and insect-free quality seed production by use of suitable plant protection measures. We also want to train the farmers about seed production technology, use of quality seed along with an improved package of practices for different seed crops,” she said.
Dr Zeenat said that people, especially unemployed youth should take advantage of the Seed Village program and it is the best opportunity for them.
“We guide the farmers from sowing to the harvest stage. In traditional varieties of maize, paddy and beans the production was less but with improved varieties the production will increase,” she said.
