NAGROTA, Aug 22: With the objective of creating awareness among farmers regarding vegetable development, modern agricultural practices and the importance of vegetable cultivation. An Exhibition-cum-Kissan Mela under the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) was organised in Zone Nagrota by the Sub Division Agriculture Office, Dansal.
The programme was graced by Chief Agriculture Officer Jammu, Manohar Lal Sharma, as the Chief Guest. District Agriculture Officer (Extension), Vinod Khajuria, along with district-level SMSs Rajeev Katoch, Munshi Ram and Kesar Durani, also participated in the programme and interacted with the farming community.
The programme was organised under the guidance of SDAO Dansal, Ashwani Gupta, with the active participation of SMS SDLs Pankaj Bhawani and Pranav Chadha. The event was efficiently arranged and coordinated by AEO Nagrota, Dr. Koushalya Devi, along with her dedicated team of field functionaries.
The centre of attraction during the Mela-cum-Exhibition was a display of vegetables, agricultural produce, farm machinery and modern agricultural technologies aimed at providing farmers with practical exposure to improved farming techniques. SMS SDL Dansal, Pankaj Bhawani, explained the exhibits to the visiting farmers and highlighted their practical utility and relevance to modern agriculture.
During the programme, the participating officers delivered informative lectures on vegetable development, diversification of agriculture and the importance of vegetable cultivation for enhancing farm income and nutritional security. Farmers actively interacted with the officers and sought information regarding improved vegetable production practices and available departmental interventions.
The Kissan Mela provided a useful platform for farmer–officer interaction, dissemination of modern agricultural technology, giving a further boost to vegetable cultivation and horticulture-based farming in the Nagrota area. Chief Agriculture Officer Jammu, Sh. Manohar Lal Sharma while speaking on the occasion expressed hope that the event would give further impetus to vegetable cultivation and horticulture-based farming in the area, thereby contributing to enhanced farm incomes and sustainable agricultural development.
SDAO Dansal, Ashwani Gupta also addressed the gathering and emphasised the need to organise such awareness programmes and Kissan Melas regularly to promote modern agricultural practices and further strengthen agriculture and horticulture-based farming in the area.