Srinagar, October 13 (GNS): Principal Secretary, Agriculture Production and Farmers Welfare Department, Navin Kumar Choudhary, today held an interactive session with the organic vegetable growers at Agriculture Complex Lal Mandi besides inspecting recently inaugurated Organic Vegetable Sale centre.
While interacting with the growers and officers, Principal Secretary informed that the department is focusing on providing better marketing platforms to the farmers and growers apart from implementing measures towards enhancing production and the productivity.
Navin said the demand for organic products has increased manifold as food quality and safety being two important factors that have gained attention among general consumers due to health benefits and food safety requirements.
Regarding the organic vegetable market, Navin said need of the hour is to replicate these types of markets at district as well as Sub Division levels for bringing right product at the right price to the consumer. He said these markets will prove to be beneficial for providing employment among the young entrepreneurs. He stressed upon the officers to create a platform for providing facilities like e- marketing and home delivery of the produce to the growers and consumers.
He applauded the efforts of the growers and the role of the Department of Agriculture Production & Farmers Welfare Kashmir for creating this type of market linkage facility to the growers as well as consumers.
Director Agriculture Kashmir Altaf Aijaz Andrabi during the occasion briefed that organic vegetables are becoming an integral part of regular food consumption, for which the department is taking various initiatives. He added Department is working round the clock to promote the vegetable sector of valley with the aim for achieving self sufficiency in vegetables.
During the interaction participating growers thanked Principal Secretary and department for providing them space to sell their produce directly to the consumers thus saving time and brokerage.
Joint Director Agriculture Extension Chowdhary Mohammad Iqbal, Joint Director Agriculture Inputs Amir ud din Andrabi, Project Coordinator Mushrooms Farooq Ahmad Shah, Chief Agriculture Officers of all districts and other senior officers of the Department were also present on the occasion. (GNS)
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