Encourage innovation in agriculture for better growth: Omar

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today stressed on the importance of utilising latest techniques in farming, and said entrepreneurship and innovation should be encouraged to boost growth.
Omar Abdullah and Governor N N Vohra were addressing the 24th University Council meeting of Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Kashmir, at Raj Bhavan, here.
Both also emphasised on the importance of utilising the latest techniques for Digital Soil Mapping to determine the best land use and cropping patterns for enhancing agri-productivity on sustained basis.
Omar, who is Pro-Chancellor of the University, said,"all the available resources should be used in best possible way to maximise returns to the farmers".

The chief minister also called for "encouraging entrepreneurship and innovation" in agriculture and its allied sectors to boost their growth.
The Governor, who is Chancellor of the University, referred to the importance of establishing benchmark data to enhance productivity of areas under horticulture, agriculture and its allied sectors.

He also called for raising certified nurseries in the state to provide quality planting material to the fruit and vegetable growers.
Referring to the production of quality seeds, he said that efforts should be intensified to increase production of seeds to meet the requirements of farmers from within the state.
While doing so, a strict monitoring mechanism must be put in place so that the quality of the seeds is of the highest possible standard, he said.

The Governor said to encourage innovation in agriculture and its allied sectors, both the farm Universities of the state should consider instituting innovation Awards.
Vohra also called for development of pastures and establishing Feed and Fodder Banks, particularly in Ladakh and other remote areas, to meet fodder requirements of livestock during winter months.
Ghulam Hassan Mir, state Minister for Agriculture, emphasised on the need of utilising the latest technology for drawing up crop-wise maps to enhance production of agriculture and its allied sectors.
He called for an intensive focus on agriculture and its allied sectors for securing their rapid growth.