KATHUA: Deputy Commissioner Kathua Rakesh Minhas today kick started wheat sowing across the Indo Pak Border in Hiranagar Sector.
SDM Hiranagar, Manisha Koul and Chief Agriculture Officer Kathua Sanjeev Rai were also present.
After inaugurating the new crop season, the DC Kathua said, “We are encouraging farmers of the border belt to bring more vacant land under cultivation along the Indo-Pak international Border. The farmers are also being motivated for integrated farming, using the latest machinery to reduce the cost of farming to enhance income in agriculture production”. He further said,” District Administration, Border Security Force and Department of Agriculture Kathua are working in coordination with farmers to facilitate safe and secure cultivation of the Rabi and Kharif crops across the fence.
While interacting with local farmers the DC said the District Administration is keen to bring entire fellow land under cultivation for which farmers of the border belt are being given extended support through agriculture and allied departments.
On the occasion Chief Agriculture Officer Kathua Sanjeev Rai Gupta, informed that for the current fiscal the Department of Agriculture kathua has set a target of Wheat Sowing in 300 Acres of land during Rabi 2023-24 across the fence. He said “about 200 acres of land across the fence was sown today in which 67 farmers from villages of Chack Changa, Karol Krishna, Karol Maithrian and Chann Tanda participated”. To facilitate effective sowing across the fence, the Department of Agriculture has also provided machines such as Tractor, Cultivator to farmers actually involved in border sowing and Team of officers/ officials from the department are also technically facilitating the farmers in every aspect, he added.
The CAO further disclosed that “We are encouraging farmers to use mechanized methods for effective sowing of wheat crop by using Super Seeder, a highly mechanized machine which can perform multi-functions such as ploughing , sowing and planking of the field simultaneously , a revolutionary step, thereby saving input cost and time taken in comparison to old traditional methods.”
President, Border Farmers’ Association Nanak Chand who is also a progressive farmer, said “the farmers of the Border Areas appreciate relentless efforts of Agriculture Department Kathua for facilitating us in sowing our lands across the Indo-Pak International border and now we are able to cultivate in both Rabi and Kharif Seasons.”