Kupwara: District Development Commissioner Kupwara Khalid Jahangir Friday chaired an interactive session regarding promotion of organic farm practices at grass-root level in the district.
Among others, officers from Agriculture and Horticulture departments, Animal Husbandry, Chief Planning Officer Kupwara and farmers of the district attended the interactive session.
DC Kupwara suggested that an action plan shall be prepared to include cultivation, processing, storage and marketing of organic vegetables and fruits on a pilot basis in five villages viz. Dedikote, Hajinar, Hatmulla, Khumriyal and Trehgam. He said this can be replicated in other areas provided rich dividends in days ahead.
The chair while being apprised by the farmers present of various issues regarding organic farming, suggestions including application of organic fertilizers to enhance production, spreading awareness among people on the health benefits of organic vegetables and the consequences of consuming pesticide content vegetables, double cropping to ensure adequate supply of food for humans and fodder for domestic animals were put forth. The farmers demanded desilting of streams for smooth flow of water required for irrigation, vermicompost units for production of organic fertilizers and conducting of awareness campaigns to encourage farmers to adopt organic farming as a viable cost-effective environmental friendly alternative.
DDC said Kupwara with the abundance of walnut trees has every potential to utilize natural resources like these for economic upliftment. “Woodcarving, one of the traditional art forms for which Valley is famous all over the world, can be adopted as a sustainable employment opportunity by the people of the district” he added. While responding to the issues raised by farmers present, DC suggested high-density walnut plantation as an effective method towards harvesting rich dividends from this sector.
