STATE TIMES NEWS KATHUA: Under Bharat ka Amrut Mahotsav a workshop on ‘Safe use of pesticides and adoption of good agricultural practices for production of Basmati’ was organised in Shivalik Resort, Dayalachack, Kathua. The programme organized by the Department of Agriculture Production and Farmers welfare in collaboration with Agriculture and processed Food products Export Development Authority (APEDA). The Director Agriculture Production & FW, Jammu Kamal Kishore Sharma highlighted the importance for the production of quality Basmati of international standards. He exhorted the farmers to increase the area under basmati cultivation which will help in raising their income and also use judicious chemicals in paddy production so that international quality pesticide free basmati rice can be produced. Dr. Ritesh Sharma, Principal Scientist, Basmati Export Development Foundation, APEDA gave detailed presentation on “Good Agricultural Practices” for the production Basmati meeting International standards. Subject Specialists from SKAUST (Jammu) Dr. Magdesswar, Dr. Amrish Vaid and Dr. Vishal Mahajan covered all aspects of Integrated Pest Management and Integrated Disease Management underlining judicious use of insecticides/fungicides. Progressive farmers S. Tajinder Singh, Jagdish Raj, and Rajinder Singh shared their experiences, issues and challenges of Basmati growing. Director Agriculture K.K Sharma gave detailed overview of farmers oriented initiatives undertaken by the Department. Earlier Vijay Upadhaya, Chief Agriculture Officer, Kathua in his inaugural address welcomed all the dignitaries and apprised that in Kathua district the area under Basmati is 5614 Ha. the production of 15350 Metric Tonnes. The major varieties of Basmati grown in the district are Basmati 1121, Basmati 370, Basmati 1718, Basmati 1509 etc. The Department of Agriculture also conducted Plant Health Clinic on the occasion for on spot diagnosis and recommendation of plant diseases / insects. A question answer session was also held on the occasion, in which queries raised by the progressive basmati growers were satisfactorily addressed by the various experts of the concerned field. Pardeep Sharma, Sub-Divisional Agriculture Officer, Dayalachack gave vote of thanks on the occasion. Besides others Basmati growers from district Kathua, A.S Reen, Joint Director (Agriculture), Marketing & Post Harvest Management, Rajan Sharma, Joint Director of Agriculture (Ext.) Jammu, Abhinandan Sharma DDC member, Ram Lal Kalia, BDC member Hiranagar Block, Officers / Official / Sarpanches / Panches and nearly 500 farmers attended the said workshop.
