Kathua:- DC Kathua Sh. Rakesh Minhas (IAS) , Sh. Sanjeev Rai Gupta , Chief Agriculture Officer, Kathua along with Sub Divisional Magistrate, Hiranagar Ms. Manisha Koul inaugurated Wheat Sowing across the Indo Pak Border in Village Chack Changa of Hiranagar Sector.
Sh. Rakesh Minhas, IAS, DC Kathua said, We are encouraging the farmer to bring more vacant land under cultivation along Indo-Pak international Border. The farmers are also being motivated for integrated farming, use of latest machinery to reduce the cost of farming to enhance income in agriculture production”. He also said,” District Administration, Border Security Force and Department of Agriculture Kathua are working in coordination with farmers to facilitate safe and secure sowing of wheat crop across the fence. He also interacted with local farmers upon his visit.
Sh. Sanjeev Rai Gupta, CAO Kathua said,” This year Department has set target of Wheat Sowing in 300 Acres of land during Rabi 2023-24 across the fence . Today , 200 acres of land across fence was sown involving 67 farmers from villages of Chack Changa, Karol Krishna, Karol Maithrian and Chann Tanda. For effective sowing across the fence, Department of agriculture has also provided machines such as Tractor, Cultivator to farmers actually involved in border sowing and Team of officers/ officials from the department are also technically facilitating the farmers in every aspect.
He also said “We are encouraging farmers to use mechanized methods for effective sowing of wheat crop by using Super Seeder, a highly mechanized machine which can perform multi-functions such as ploughing , sowing and planking of the field simultaneously , a revolutionary step, thereby saving input cost and time taken in comparison to old traditional methods.”
Sh. Nanak Chand, President, Border Farmers’ Association and, a progressive farmer, said “We, the farmers of the Border Area appreciate relentless efforts of Chief Agriculture Officer, Kathua for facilitating us in sowing our vacant lands across the Indo-Pak International border in both Rabi and Kharif Season.”
It is pertinent to mention that Department of Agriculture has relentlessly supported farmers of the Border Areas since 2019 and more farmers owning vacant land along and across the Indo Pak international border has been motivated to sow their vacant land consistently in each season.
During the visit, officers and officials accompanied were Sh. Jamshed Singh, AEO Marheen, Sh. Narayan Singh, JAEO, Sh. Rajesh Sharma JAEO, Sh. Vishal JAEO and Sh. Sanjay Kumar AEA.
