Floriculture sector in JK has immense growth potential: Javaid Mustafa

Jammu: Minister for Disaster Management, Relief Rehabilitation & Reconstruction and Floriculture, Javaid Mustafa Mir along with Minister of State for Education, Tourism, Floriculture and Parks, Priya Sethi Tuesday attended the State cum District Level Commercial Floriculture event here at Gulshan Ground, Police Auditorium.
Vice Chairman, J&K State Advisory Board for Development of Kisans, Daljit Singh Chib, Commissioner, Secretary, Khurshid Ahmad Shah, Director Floriculture, Jammu, BabilaRakwal besides Districts officers of floriculture department were present on the occasion.
The daylong event commenced with the inauguration of exhibition by the Ministers where stalls were installed by various departments and organizations to display the varied floriculture products, flowers, tools, sprayers and many alike.
Speaking on the occasion, Minister for Disaster Management, Relief Rehabilitation & Reconstruction and Floriculture, Javaid Mustafa Mir saidthe state of J&K has immense potential for growth in floriculture sector and called for collective efforts by the department and the farmers to tap its potential to the optimal.
The Minister saidthe floriculture is the face of J&K and further stressed on strengthening the floriculture sector in the state.
The government has initiated several projects on the line of national and international level concepts to develop the parks, the Minister said, adding that, a component of physical activities such as gyms to be included in the development plan of parks.
The Minister appreciated the working of the floriculture department and saideveryone associated with the floriculture is making its contribution to develop the floriculture sector in the state.
Javaid Mustafa Mir asked the farmers who are engage in other type of farming to adopt floriculture for an alternate source of income.
The Minister welcomed the idea for facilitating the employees and saidsuch gestures proved to be a motivational force and results in more efficient working.
During her address, Minister of State for Education, Tourism, Floriculture and Parks, Priya Sethi stressed on the need to draft the floriculture policy, establishing centre of excellence for floriculture and add on market value to make the floriculture sector a more lucrative option for the farmers.
She further exhorted upon the adoption of integrated farming concept and saidthe state government will take all the necessary measures required to expand the scale of the floriculture in J&K.
Priya asked the concerned officers to ensure that the centrally sponsored schemes must reach the beneficiaries. She saidthe farmers in the state needs handholding and a right guiding force and asked the concerned to impart proper training to the farmers and aware them about various productive opportunities of flower farming.
During the event, the Experts briefed the farmers who came in large numbers from across the state about the commercial aspects of the floriculture and held an interactive session with them. Documentary showcasing the floriculture sector of Jammu region was also screened during the event. Farmers also provided with an opportunity to share their experience in varied nature of flower farming.
Unveiling of the logo for the floriculture department remained one of the main highlights of the event. Officials and gardeners of floriculture department were facilitated by the dignitaries for putting in dedicated efforts in decorating Assembly and Council during Budget Session.
Later, the Ministers flagged off a refrigerated van for Doda region fulfilling the commitment made by the Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti for providing the transportation facility for flower growers of the said region.