The Extension granted to Director Agriculture Kashmir was much in the public interest and as per provision under Section 56(d). It has been welcomed very rightly by people of all shades and opinions due to his deepest public acquaintance in Kashmir Valley. Farming community as well as Employees working in the department. He is one of the top serving officers of Kashmir, who have the distinction of working under tough conditions and as well as the administrative practices and procedures having all capabilities and professional intelligence to head the department. Chowdhury Mohammad Iqbal having the distinction of implementing decentralised planning with greater degree of efficiency and developmental orientation in entire Kashmir division is also known for his reformative style of functioning as Director Agriculture Production and farmers welfare Department. Known for Honesty, Integrity, simplicity and Meritorious Public Service is apparently the reason of extending his tenure. Also Known for significant reforms for enhancing infrastructure, human resources, and quality of Farmer based services in Kashmir. The role played by Choudhary Mohammad Iqbal in implementing Holistic Agriculture Development Program (HADP) was lauded by none other than Lt Governor Manoj Sinha himself. With his great experiences, administrative discipline and Profession distinguish, farmers of Kashmir to witness an era of development in Agriculture and aim of doubling the income of farmers. It is worthwhile to mention here that he has not left over a Single Panchayat halqa, where he hasn’t visited during his tenure as Director and listened to farmers’ problems patiently. You can see him at 5.00 A.M at the high altitude potato farm Kalnag Larnoo on Sunday morning and at the Bosain (Baramulla) farm the very next day. If any problem arises to the farming community at midnight or at any time he will report by a single call. He saved the paddy crops of entire Shangus Tehsil by providing them much needed Borewells in the drought region in 2023. Farmers lauded the timely action. Due to his sincere efforts the world’s famous Saffron of Kashmir got GI Tag along with Mushujbudhji rice. Several consignments of exotic and organic vegetables including Nadro were directly exported to Gulf Countries.
“Kashmir valley is topping in vegetable production in yield. We have reached a position where we can have six rounds of vegetable crops annually and more rounds of vegetable seedlings within a span of 35 days. Area under spices has increased. New employment avenues are generated through different schemes. Participation of Women farmers in different farmer beneficiary schemes has been increasing. Women have shown great interest in taking kitchen garden farming. Most important is that employees are satisfied with their job and working with zeal under the leadership of Director Agriculture Kashmir.”
On field, activities and latest know-how of the agriculture department have been taken from lab to land. Kashmir valley is topping in incorporating Farmer beneficiary schemes like PM Kisaan, PM Mandhan, female farmer groups cultivating different kinds of vegetables and subsidised farmer machinery programmes. Whether it’s hybrid seeds of Cereals of kharief season like Paddy ,Maize , made available much before sowing time and same way for Rabi crops like Oilseed, Oats etc. Hybrid seeds and seedlings of different vegetables are made available throughout the year under Seed production scheme. The production of Honey and Mushroom has seen a manifold increase. Medicinal and Aromatic planting has been given prime importance and the department has increased acreage by adopting state lands, which were either Idle or encourached. Kashmir valley is topping in vegetable production in yield. We have reached a position where we can have six rounds of vegetable crops annually and more rounds of vegetable seedlings within a span of 35 days. Area under spices has increased. New employment avenues are generated through different schemes. Participation of Women farmers in different farmer beneficiary schemes has been increasing. Women have shown great interest in taking kitchen garden farming. Most important is that employees are satisfied with their job and working with zeal under the leadership of Director Agriculture Kashmir.
(The author a freelancer. The views, opinions and conclusions expressed in this article are those of the author and aren’t necessarily in accord with the views of “Kashmir Horizon”.)
[email protected]
