Srinagar, Feb 17: Minister for Agriculture Ghulam Hassan Mir Thursday said there was a need for investment in the agriculture sector to restore its lost glory and make it attractive for youth.
 “It is no-investment-sector nowadays and lacks glamour. This is one of the reasons that youth are not attracted towards it,” he said.
 Mir said agriculture was a primary sector but it had got (reduced) to subsidiary sector with passage of time. “It has employment potential but needs investment,” Mir said at a program “First Award Ceremony of Progressive Farmers of Kashmir Division-2010-11” organized by the Agriculture department here.
 Chief Minister Omar Abdullah was present on the occasion.
 Mir said due to lack of glamour in the sector the achievements are not acknowledged. “This is the reason that we have decided to hold this program and encourage farmers,” the minister said.
 He said new agriculture policy was on the anvil to boost this sector and seek welfare and prosperity of the people connected with farm practices.
 Minister for horticulture, Sham Lal Sharma said J&K has registered three lakh metric tons of fruit production more this year.  “From 17 lakh metric tons in 2009-10 the fruit production has zoomed to 20 lakh metric tons during 2010-11,” he said.
 He said the flower production has also witnessed a boom and during 2009 the production was worth Rs 15 crore.
 Minister of state for Fisheries Aijaz Ahmad Khan said state government has already initiated several measures to boost production in agriculture and its allied sectors.
 Minister of state for Agriculture, Javid Ahmad Dar hailed the practice of organizing agriculture melas by the department to impart training to the farmers in latest technology.
 Minister of state for Co-operatives, Manahor Lal Sharma said 75 thousand Kissan Cards have been issued through J and K cooperative Bank.
 Awards:
 On the occasion the Chief Minister gave away state, district and block level awards to two, 10 and 119 persons in different categories.
 Among others Dr Gazalla Amin was rewarded with state level award. A medico by profession with interest in farming, Dr Gazalla had started cultivation of medicinal and aromatic plants over an area of one hectare at Asham, Sumbal. Within two years she expanded the area to three hectares and established her own Aromatic oil distribution plant. Later she exploded cultivation of other aromatic and medicinal plants successfully.
 Dr Gazalla has now set up a public-private partnership unit with RRL for the first time in the state.
 She has established a retail brand under the name of “Pure Aroma” and is presently marketing premium rose water, Lavender oil and Geranium oil. She has associated about 30 members in the cooperative farming.

Lastupdate on : Thu, 17 Feb 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Thu, 17 Feb 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Fri, 18 Feb 2011 00:00:00 IST