REASI, May 24: Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Reasi under the aegis of Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology-Jammu organised training programme on “Entrepreneurship Development in Floriculture” under Attracting and Retaining Youths in Agriculture (ARYA) project here at KVK Reasi campus which was actively attended by a number of farmers of the area.
The programme was organised under the dynamic leadership of Vice Chancellor, Prof.B.N Tripathi and able guidance of Director Extension, Prof.Amrish Vaid of SKUAST-J.
Chief Scientist & Head of Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Reasi, Dr. Banarsi Lal said that the objective of ARYA project is to attract and empower the rural youths to take agriculture and allied sector enterprises for sustainable income and gainful employment.
He narrated that Attracting and Retaining Youths in Agriculture (ARYA) project has been initiated in Reasi distt by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research in Reasi distt. of J&K through which the KVK is promoting the agri-entrepreneurship development among the rural youths so that they can be made self-reliant and empowered.
He spoke in detail on scientific floriculture and said the farmers that they can generate more farm income by adopting the latest practices in commercial floriculture.
He guided the farmers on the importance of floriculture in the monkey prone areas as the crop is not damaged by the monkeys.
He stressed on the commercial floriculture and informed the farmers that floriculture has an ample scope in the area as there is great demand of marigold flowers in the religious spots in the distt.
He encouraged the farmers for the entrepreneurship development in floriculture and educated themon the nursery raising techniques in marigold.
He also guided participants on Integrated Nutrient Management (INM) and Integrated Pest Management in marigold crop. He also demonstrated the fields of marigold crop to the farmers and highlighted the scientific technologies for the commercial floriculture.
He informed the farmers about the open pollinated/hybrid varieties of marigold and discussed on the nipping in marigold to get more yield.
He also discussed on the protected cultivation of floral crops and encouraged the farmers to establish low cost polyhouse units at their farms to produce quality seedlings and get more yield of flowers throughout the year.
The scientist motivated the farmers by giving the success stories of some progressive floriculturists in the region.
Rakesh Kumar, Development Officer, FPO stressed on the FPOs formation among the floriculturists.
The farmers were highly appreciated the efforts of KVK for promotion of commercial floriculture in the area. In this programme progressive floriculturists were also present who shared their experiences on commercial floriculture with the other participants. In this training programme various quarries were raised by the farmers which KVK scientist answered in a very satisfactorily way.
During the programme, progressive farmer Shoukat Ali was also present who stressed on innovative farming en increase farm income. The programme was assisted by Manohar Lal and concluded by Rakesh Kumar with formal vote of thanks.