Srinagar, Oct 12: Director Agriculture Kashmir, Sartaj Ahmad Shah today flagged off a group of 45 progressive farmers from different zones of Srinagar district for an exposure visit and capacity building programme to Punjab Agriculture University, Ludhiana.
The exposure visit has been organised by Agriculture Production & Farmers Welfare department district Srinagar under HADP project, Promotion of aromatic and medicinal plants.
While interacting with the farmers on the occasion, the Director said that that the main objective of this exposure visit cum capacity building programme is to train the local farmers in the niche sector of medicinal and aromatic plants for a gradual shift from survival livelihood to high return agribusiness. As Kashmir offers a unique agro climatic conditions for the cultivation of aromatic and medicinal plants, this exposure visit will provide an opportunity to the trainees to explore new income generating avenues in Lavender, Rosemary, and specializes aromatic and medicinal plants that thrive locally.
Director Agriculture stressed upon the participants to take full advantage of this opportunity so that they get acquainted with the latest high value varieties of medicinal and aromatic plants, their nursery management, post-harvest Extraction and processing besides exploring market dynamics.
Chief Agriculture Officer Srinagar, Aijaz Hassan Mir, Sub divisional Agriculture Officer Srinagar and other senior officers of the department were present on the occasion.