The Department of Agriculture, Shopian and allied departments today organised a Kisan Mela at Old Fruit Mandi Shopian in order to give a platform to aspiring, progressive agri-prueners and successful farmers to showcase their farm activities, products and services besides generating awareness on different government schemes for livelihood and employment.
The Mela, participated by thousands of people and students, was inaugurated by District Development Commissioner (DDC) Shopian, Mohammad Shahid Saleem Dar.
At the outset, the DDC inspected stalls set up by different agri-allied departments, KVK, NRLM, Forests, Agri companies, local progressive farmers and self-employment departments.
He interacted with staff, farmers and agri-preneurs on their employment ventures and sought their feedback on schemes and their benefits.
People were seen visiting the counters and stalls for getting themselves acquainted with new agricultural practices, technologies and interventions and were also taking part in business transactions.
The Mela provided a platform to farmers to sell their produce and products including honey, mushroom, poultry, fancy birds, seed, farm machinery, organic fertilizers, etc.
Employment based departments were also seen providing scheme awareness and facilitating attendants for on spot registrations. Progressive Farmers who spoke on the occasion briefed about their successful businesses besides flagging-off some vital issues requiring resolution including high cost inputs in the poultry sector, spurious pesticides, etc which were noted for appropriate action.
The DDC, besides highlighting the objective of organising the camp, called upon people especially youth seeking employment to take maximum benefit of such events.
He asked them to register for various self employment schemes and ventures into agriculture and related business for their livelihood generation.
He also dealt with various other issues including drugs, illegal mining, sanitation and other issues and sought cooperation and support of the general public of the district in tackling the social evils and improving the governance system.
Special mention was made of Kisan Khidmat Ghars established across the district for handholding, training and facilitating farmers for the development of farming.
District heads of Agriculture, Horticulture, KVK, Fisheries, Cooperatives, Animal & Sheep Husbandry and Area Marketing sensitized gathering on schemes, new interventions in their respective sectors.
Farmers who have done exceptionally well in popularising the use of best farming systems and practices & have inspired many people to take farming as a profession were felicitated.
ADC Shopian, Dr. Zakir Hussain Faaz, ACR, Dy.DEO, Heads of all departments were present on the occasion besides a smooth gathering of people and students.