Srinagar, Dec 06: Director Agriculture Kashmir Syed Altaf Aijaz Andrabi today informed that the department would establish one mushroom development centre in each district headquarter of Kashmir division.

The Director said at the flag off ceremony of a group of 120 progressive farmers of district Srinagar who left for one day exposure tour to get acquainted with latest technology and agricultural knowhow.

While interacting with the visiting farmer’s, the director said that they should learn by heart the latest technologies and should replicate it in their fields for increasing their production and income. The programme is being organised under Agriculture Technology Management Agency (ATMA) scheme. Farmers will be visiting CITH (Central Institute of Temperate Horticulture).

Later Director convened a review meeting for developmental activities and flagship programmes being undertaken by the department.

On this occasion, Director Agriculture said that the department is, going to develop value edition centres at all district headquarters at a cost of Rs 10 crores each, where post-harvest management practices will be carried out for surplus vegetable to increase the economy of farmers. One such big processing unit will be taken up at Lalmandi Srinagar during the current year.

He also said that for interest of vegetable growers who are producing high value vegetable seeds, incentives @ 150/kg of seed will be provide to them by the government. The Seed Certification Agency was instructed to certify these seeds.

Andrabi Instructed the concerned officers for speeding up the procurement process of high-value rice varieties such as Muskhbudji and Red Rice (ZAG). He insisted upon the Officers for developing a transparent and accountable mechanism at the grass root level. All the Chief Agriculture Officers were instructed to make 100% expenditure in all schemes and flagship programmes.

Director said the department is committed to provide the paddy harvesters and threshers on subsidized costs to the farmers during the coming agriculture season to save labour component and time.

Joint Director Agriculture Inputs Deepak Kuchroo, Project Coordinator Mushrooms Avinash Chander Peer, all Chief Agriculture Officers and Divisional Officers were also present.