Kupwara:The Agriculture Department, Kupwara in collaboration with SKUAST-K Friday organized an impressive function to celebrate paddy harvesting week in the district.
Director Research SKUAST K, Prof Sarafaraz Ahmad Wani was the chief guest at the occasion.
A team of scientists from Mountain Rice Research Khudwani participated in the programme. The programme was also attended by Prof.Nazir Ahmad Bhat, Prof Arshid Mughal Associate director research and other senior scientists of SKUAST.
Speaking at the occasion, the chief guest expressed his happiness for holding such a brainstorming session of technocrats. He assured all possible help from the SKUAST so that Agriculture farming could get further boost in the district.
Chief Agriculture Officer (CAO) Kupwara Nazir Ahmad Wani highlighted the role of the department in transfer of technology from lab to land and also raised the problems faced by the farming community of the district. He particularly raised the issues of red rice grown in Tangdar area and sought the technical guidance in its area expansion to other areas while maintaining its quality and flavour.
He also sought the technical guidance regarding the post harvest management of sweet corn which has huge potential in the district given that Kupwara cultivates maize on an area of 18000 hectares of land.
Professor Nazir Ahmed Bhat highlighted the role of research agencies in improving the various cereal and vegetable varieties and appreciated the role of the department in horizontal expansion of technology to the farming community.
The team as a whole expressed their happiness in being associated with development of the agri sector in Kupwara given that Kupwara district is one of the aspirational districts of Jammu and Kashmir.
A question answer session was also held in which the extension functionaries raised some queries which were satisfactorily answered by scientists.
Dr Sajad Mohidin Head KVK Kupwara highlighted the role of KVK in dissemination of latest technologies to the farming community in the district.
