Srinagar, April 25: KVK Budgam in collaboration with KVK Pulwama Friday held a seed distribution cum awareness programme of tribal farmers of Budgam district under the project ‘Outreach of Technology and Distribution of Farming Tools’ for schedule tribe (ST) and low-income farmers funded under the tribal sub-plan.
A statement issued here said that the aim of the programme was to distribute high quality potato and maize seeds among tribal farmers. “About 60 farmers of village Lobran, Khag block participated in the programme,” the statement said. The programme was inaugurated by Prof Raihana H. Kanth, Director Extension, SKUAST-K who was the chief guest at the occasion. In her address to farmers, she encouraged them to be forthcoming for such developmental initiatives to augment agriculture in their region to optimize production for sustenance and commercial viability using new technologies. She also stressed on adoption and dissemination of these high yielding varieties of potato and maize. She also briefed the farmers about the role of SKUAST-K in augmenting research in agriculture to facilitate the farming in Tribal Areas of Kashmir.
Dr. Javid A. Mughal, Principal Investigator of the project, shared the key highlights of the project in enhancing livelihood of farmers. Dr. Bilal A. Lone (Prof and Head KVK Budgam), briefed the tribal farmers about the role of KVK Budgam in facilitating such programmes through on farm trials and front-line demonstrations at farmer’s field. Dr Ambreen Nabi, Scientist KVK, deliberated upon the Packages of Practices of Potato (Kufri Jyoti) to be adopted throughout the Tribal Area. Farmers of Lobrin have been provided full support by KVK Budgam for creating sustainable production systems in oilseeds, paddy etc through provision of farming tools from time to time. Scientists from SKUAST-K and KVK Budgam besides technical staff also attended the programme.
