Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 2: Arvinder Singh Reen, the Director of Agriculture Jammu, has recently completed an extensive visit to the Udhampur district. The primary focus of the tour was to assess the progress of various agricultural projects and infrastructure under prominent programs including the Holistic Agriculture Development Programme (HADP), Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS), and NABARD.
The objective was to evaluate the implementation and effectiveness of these initiatives in fostering sustainable agricultural growth in the area.
The tour began with a detailed meeting at the Chief Agriculture Officer’s (CAO) office, where CAO Sanjay Anand presented an informative PowerPoint overview, detailing the progress, accomplishments, and future aspirations of several agricultural schemes in Udhampur. This discussion provided insightful feedback on the effective execution of these programs as well as identifying areas needing further improvement.
Following the meeting, Reen visited the Soil Testing Laboratory in Udhampur, where he reviewed the facilities, equipment, and staff capabilities, offering constructive feedback on laboratory operations.
The Director also examined ongoing agricultural initiatives at Kawa Farm, commending the farming practices and overall agricultural advancement in the district. His inspection included the SMAF Nursery and the 35 MT Pasteurized Compost Making Unit at SM Farm Kawa.
He emphasized that the compost facility will supply locally sourced pasteurized compost to farmers and also serve nearby districts, thus promoting self-sufficiency in mushroom production and creating job opportunities for local youth.
Additionally, Reen reviewed the construction of the Pesticide Laboratory under NABARD and visited the controlled environment cropping unit dedicated to mushroom cultivation.
Accompanying the Director were Chief Agriculture Officer Sanjay Anand, Assistant Agrostologist Amit Sharma, DAO (Extension) Vinod Gupta, SDAO Ajay Sharma, along with other senior officers and staff.
