As part of the efforts being put in by District Administration & Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, for well being of farmers in line with Government’s target of doubling the farmers’ income High Yielding paddy varieties are being introduced in Rajouri to replace local coarse variety.
Encouraged by the successful trial of “Saffron growing” in the district, the Agriculture department has started another experiment of cultivating “Dough” variety of Paddy native to Bhaderwah in the district.
As per the Agri experts, most of the paddy varieties cultivated in Rajouri are coarse and lack any aroma and are also susceptible to “Rice Blast” disease.
Introduction of the new high Yielding varieties of the crops will not only help in enhancing productivity but also improve quality, health and nutritional value and increase production for being highly resistant to pests and diseases prevalent in the area.
After seeking views of experts a plan for the introduction of “Dough” Variety of paddy grown in Bhaderwah was formulated where this variety is known for its peculiar taste and resistance to many pest and disease of paddy
Initially none of the farmers agreed to the opinion as they doubted the performance of the new variety but with the untiring efforts of the Agriculture Department and District Administration, a farmer Haron Rashid Magrey agreed to cultivate "Dough" in his fields.
Haroon Rashid Magray is a progressive, innovative and hardworking farmer of a remote village namely Dodassan Pain, Zone: Fatehpur, Block: Planger of Sub-Division- Darhal.
Being an innovative farmer, he acted upon the idea and accepted the challenge and took the risk of growing a new variety during Kharif - 2021 which was never grown in this area.
He also took in confidence four more progressive farmers of his village to grow DOUGH over an Area of 1 Ha. He and his fellow farmers worked hard under the close supervision of the Agriculture Field Staff, and with the support of the District Adm in the cultivation process.
At the end of the season and analysis of data, the trial turned out as a great success with a yield of 22.20 qlt/Ha against 16-19 qtl/Ha of the Paddy variety grown in the area. The harvest fetched the farmers around Rs 1500 per Kanal that too without application of chemical fertilizers and pesticides.
As per the Agriculture department, the variety has been recommended to be widely grown in this terrain as it is also resistant to pest and disease especially to “Rice Blast”.