JAMMU, Oct 19: Director Agriculture Production & Farmers Welfare, Jammu, Anil Gupta, on Monday inaugurated the distribution of hybrid vegetable seedlings at the Centre of Excellence (CoE) for Entrepreneurship in Precision Vegetables & Floriculture Farming, Krishi Bhawan, Talab Tillo established under the Agronomist, Vegetable Improvement Scheme (VIS), Jammu.
Among others present on the occasion were Deputy Director Agriculture (Central) Jammu, Sanjeev Rai Gupta; Agronomist (VIS), Jammu, Bhabishan Singh Jasrotia; Assistant Botanist, Ajit Singh; SMS SDL, Mohan Singh Slathia; Floriculture Development Assistant and In-charge, Centre of Excellence, Surinder Radotra; and other senior officers and staff of the Department.
Anil Gupta distributed hybrid vegetable seedlings among 20 farmers from the Marh and R.S. Pura Sub-Divisions. The Centre of Excellence is raising a range of Hybrid, high-quality, disease-free seedlings using scientific techniques to promote improved vegetable cultivation among farmers. The varieties available include Girja and Snow Pearl (C7008) cauliflower, Green Flash and Royal Ball (BC-51) cabbage, Red Jewel red cabbage, New Red Fire lettuce, Green Magic broccoli, and Heemsohna and Abhilash tomato.
Interacting with the farmers, the Director Agriculture urged them to avail themselves of the facility and adopt scientific vegetable cultivation practices to enhance productivity, improve produce quality and increase farm profitability. He informed that farmers from Jammu district and other districts of the Jammu Division could obtain hybrid vegetable seedlings from the Centre throughout the year, subject to seasonal availability and crop requirements.
The Director also directed the departmental field functionaries to assess farmers requirements for vegetable seedlings and ensure timely fulfilment of their demands. He emphasised the need to generate widespread awareness among farmers regarding the availability of quality hybrid seedlings at highly subsidised rates through the Department, enabling them to adopt modern cultivation practices and improve their income.
Agronomist (VIS), Jammu, Bhabishan Singh Jasrotia, briefed the Director Agriculture on the activities being undertaken at the Centre. He informed that hybrid vegetable seedlings for the Rabi season are ready for distribution and are being made available to farmers at a highly subsidised rate of Rs 2 per seedling. He urged farmers to visit the Centre and avail themselves of the facility as per their requirements.