Jammu : The two-day seminar on Makhana Cultivation concluded Friday here at Kisan Kendra, Talab Tillo. Director Agriculture Anil Gupta and Nodal Officer for Makhana Cultivation in Jammu and Kashmir attended the valedictory session.
Addressing the participants, Anil Gupta described the seminar as a significant initiative towards introducing Makhana as a high-value crop in Jammu and Kashmir. He appreciated the resource persons and experts for sharing their valuable technical expertise on scientific cultivation practices, production technologies, processing and value addition. He expressed confidence that based on the technical knowledge and experience gained during the seminar, Makhana cultivation would soon be initiated in suitable areas of Jammu Division.
He informed that the Government of India has approved a Central Sector Scheme for the Development of Makhana, reflecting the growing national focus on promoting this high-value crop. He observed that Jammu and Kashmir, particularly the Jammu Division, holds considerable potential for Makhana cultivation and expressed hope that farmers would adopt it as a profitable crop diversification option. He urged the participating officers to effectively utilise the knowledge gained during the seminar to develop successful Makhana production clusters and create sustainable livelihood opportunities for farmers.
Emphasising the need for practical exposure, Anil Gupta stated that organising seminars alone would not be sufficient for the promotion of Makhana cultivation. “The Department will soon organise exposure visits for farmers and departmental officers to established Makhana-growing regions to gain first-hand knowledge of scientific cultivation practices, processing technologies and modern production techniques, which could subsequently be replicated in Jammu Division,” he announced.
He also assured that the Agriculture Department would extend all possible assistance to promote innovation, agri-based start-ups and entrepreneurship related to Makhana cultivation in the Union Territory.
Earlier, Joint Director (Extension) Suresh Kumar Khajuria welcomed the participants and highlighted the importance of scientific knowledge dissemination and capacity building for the successful introduction of Makhana cultivation in Jammu and Kashmir.
