Kishtwar : The Four-Day exposure tour for Kishtwar Women Farmers under the Agricultural Technology Management Agency (ATMA) scheme to Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST) Kashmir concluded on Saturday.
The tour, involving 23 women farmers and SHG members from District Kishtwar provided them an invaluable opportunity to interact with agricultural experts and witness cutting-edge technologies and practices such as Greenhouse Farming, Hydroponics, Aeroponics, Commercial Floriculture, Walnut Processing, and modern marketing techniques.
Deputy Commissioner Dr Devansh Yadav has extended felicitation to the entourage on successful completion of the tour and urged them to utilise the technological skill & experience gained from the tour for enhancing their agriculture productivity by filling the technological gaps in the district’s farming sector.
During the tour, participants visited several key facilities including the main campus of SKUAST Kashmir, the India International Kashmir Saffron Trade Centre (IIKSTC), and the Advanced Saffron Research Station at Dusso, Pampore and Mughal garden.
At the main campus in Shalimar, farmers were introduced to high crop cultivation, which not only boosts yields but also promotes efficient resource management, including water and fertilizers, high-yielding variety (HYV) crops, and high-value horticultural crop cultivation.The tour at Mughal Garden and Dal Lake showcased the commercial floriculture.
The visit to the Advanced Saffron Research Station at Dusso, Pampore allowed the farmers to explore saffron production, a key identity of District Kishtwar. Meanwhile, the IIKSTC provided insights into modern spice park technologies that facilitate organized marketing, quality-based pricing, and direct transactions between growers, traders, exporters, and industrial agencies, ensuring substantial profits for the beneficiaries.
Additionally, a session on environmental awareness covered sustainable gardening practices, conservation efforts, and the importance of biodiversity.
Renowned singer Zahida Tarannum also accompanied and engaged with the farmers, emphasizing the significance of agriculture through thematic songs.
The women farmers expressed profound gratitude to the District administration and Agriculture Department for the knowledge gained during the visit, noting that the experience has inspired them to adopt progressive agricultural methods, embrace technological innovations, and collaborate with experts to enhance the overall prosperity of the region.
