Director Agriculture, Kashmir, Syed Altaf Aijaz Andrabi Friday highlighted the need for concerted efforts to prevent the conversion of agriculture land for non-agricultural purposes.
According to an official spokesperson, the director made these remarks at a meeting he convened here to discuss the agriculture scenario of the valley.
“Various laws and regulation are in place in the state, which prohibits or restrict conversion of agriculture land for non-agriculture purposes, however, coordination among the stakeholders including different law enforcement agencies is needed to completely halt the ill practice,” he added.
He said if necessary steps are not taken to contain the menace it will have the devastating impact on generations to come.
“Unplanned constructions like raising of colonies, factories, brick kilns, shopping complexes and other commercial establishments is severely affecting agriculture sector of the state,” the director said.
Andrabi highlighted the role of agriculture department as an important stakeholder and directed the chief agriculture officers, officers of the law enforcement agencies and other senior officers of the department to play their role with utmost commitment to check the conversion of agriculture land.
He called upon the officers to ensure necessary steps to increase awareness among the farmers regarding the long-term impact of farmland conversion. He advised that for increasing production and productivity, the need of the hour is to achieve high-efficiency levels in the preservation, utilization of land and water resources, altogether prohibiting a conversion of productive agriculture lands for non-agriculture purposes.