Principal Secretary Agriculture Production and Farmers Welfare Department Navin Kumar Choudhary today e-inaugurated first Organic Vegetable Sale Centre here at Agriculture Complex Lalmandi.
Speaking on the occasion, the Principal Secretary said organic farming is worldwide acknowledged as a crop production system which can sustain health of soil, ecosystem and people by combining tradition, innovation and improved farm technology.
Navin said the need of the hour is to broaden the base of such centres for bringing the right product at the right price for the consumers. He emphasized that organic cultivation is emerging as the most lucrative farm activity and needs to be promoted across Jammu and Kashmir.
“The demand for organic products is fast rising as the food quality and safety have gained much attention among general consumers due to health benefits and food safety requirements,” he added. He also recommended setting up such types of markets at district level so that the farmers get better returns and consumers can enjoy fresh and quality vegetables at their doorsteps. These centres will also prove as game changers for providing employment opportunities to the young entrepreneurs, he added.
Navin congratulated the Department of Agriculture Kashmir for providing a space to the organic vegetable growers to sell their produce directly to the consumers.
While elaborating the organic sector success in the valley, Director Agriculture Altaf Aijaz Andrabi said that organic vegetables are becoming an integral part of regular food consumption here, for which the department is taking various initiatives. Providing space to the growers and further expansion of these markets to district level is one such handholding step, he added.
Andrabi said that 5 PGS registered vegetable clusters of District Srinagar, Baramulla, Pulwama, Bandipora and Ganderbal have been linked up with the centre at Lalmandi to provide fresh and quality vegetables to the consumers.
Joint Director Agriculture Extension Chowdhary Mohammad Iqbal, Joint Director Agriculture Inputs Amir ud din Andrabi, Chief Agriculture Officers of all districts and other senior officers of the Department were part of the event.