MUZAFFARABAD (Kashmir English): The Department of Agriculture, Azad Kashmir, has achieved a milestone by successfully harvesting ginger for the first time in the state at the Training and Adaptive Research Unit, Garhi Dupatta.
A ceremony was held at Garhi Dupatta ADR Research Center in collaboration with Ayub Agriculture Research Institute, Faisalabad, and Nishtar Institute, Islamabad, the AJK Agriculture Department said in a press release.
The ceremony was attended by Secretary Agriculture AJK Idrees Abbasi, Deputy Director Parks and Horticulture Malik Muhammad Amir, Deputy Director Agriculture Raja Zaheer, Incharge Garhi Dupatta ADR Farm Waqas Abdullah, Assistant Horticulture Officer Murtaza Gilani, other officers, farmers, and local people.
The Secretary of Agriculture was informed that, for the economic independence of farmers and the development of the agricultural sector, regular cultivation of ginger has been completed for the first time in the Garhi Dupatta area of Muzaffarabad district, which is good for regional agriculture.
On this occasion, Secretary of Agriculture Idrees Abbasi said that the Agriculture Department is introducing modern reforms in the agricultural sector in collaboration with the farmers, and the gaps between the farmers and the Agriculture Department are being bridged.
He said that by conducting a successful cultivation of ginger, the message has been given to the farmers that they will soon be able to cultivate this crop themselves, which will make them economically strong.
He further said that the Azad Kashmir government is providing new employment opportunities by developing the agricultural sector on modern lines.
According to the Agriculture Department’s agricultural experts, not only is a significant increase in ginger production expected through tunnel farming, but there will also be a significant improvement in the income of the farmers, which will stabilize the local economy and create new employment opportunities.
The Agriculture Department is providing modern technical guidance, quality seeds, fertilizers, and practical training to the farmers so that this project can be successful on a long-term basis, the statement said.
Local farmers have welcomed this initiative of the Agriculture Department and expressed hope that this project will be expanded to other areas in the future. This project is a practical reflection of the promotion of modern agricultural methods, food self-sufficiency, and farmer-friendly policies in Azad Kashmir and is proving to be a strong milestone for the agriculture sector.
He said that the Agriculture Department will soon start farming of ginger on modern bases in collaboration with local farmers and cultivators, under which cultivation will be done by adopting modern methods of tunnel farming.
The main objective of this project is to protect the crop from weather effects, obtain better quality produce, and increase the yield per acre.
