JAMMU: Minister for Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs, Transport, Science & Technology, Information Technology, Youth Services & Sports, Satish Sharma, today flagged off a group of progressive farmers for a one-day exposure visit under the Promotion of Oilseed initiative of the HADP scheme.
The event was attended by Director Agriculture Jammu, Anil Gupta; Chief Agriculture Officer Jammu, Manohar Lal Sharma; Agriculture Chemist; SMS (DL); SDAO Akhnoor; ASCO Akhnoor; along with JAEOs and AEAs from Sub Division Akhnoor.
Addressing the gathering, Minister Sharma highlighted the importance of promoting and expanding oilseed cultivation to reduce the country’s reliance on edible oil imports. He stressed that farmers require comprehensive technical and scientific training to adopt modern agricultural practices effectively and boost production. He added that such exposure visits are crucial in bridging the gap between scientific research and practical field applications.
Director Agriculture Jammu emphasized the need for diversification of farming activities to increase farmers’ incomes. He informed that, alongside oilseed promotion, farmers would receive training and exposure in mushroom cultivation ahead of the upcoming season, allowing them to supplement oilseed production and move towards doubling their income.
Under this programme, 62 farmers from Chamb Constituency, Sub Division Akhnoor, accompanied by three officers from the Agriculture Department, are visiting the Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), R.S. Pura, Jammu. The initiative aims to familiarize farmers with modern technologies, scientific interventions, and best practices in oilseed cultivation, enhancing their knowledge and capacity to adopt innovative methods in the field.
