Basmati rice of Jammu to get big boost: Div Com

Jammu, September 6 (Scoop News) -Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, Dr. Pawan Kotwal, today chaired an officers meeting to discuss the formulation of project on promotion of indigenous Basmati rice in Jammu division here today.

 Deliberating on vast potential of promotion of this variety in the state, which is a staple crop for a large chunk of population in J&K, The Div Comm said that Basmati of Jammu division especially of R. S. Pura is widely known for its taste and aroma which if produced with latest scientific techniques can give this vital commodity a significant place in crop’s world.

The Divisional Commissioner also highlighted significance of other indigenous agricultural products like saffron and almonds. He directed the officers to provide quality seed and other agricultural inputs to farmers to meet the export standards and get excellent returns from Basmati. He said that to promote Basmati cultivation and to exploit its yield potential to the optimum, it is essential that farmers adopt efficient management techniques and appropriate technology to improve its quality and productivity.

  The Div Com asked the SKUAST, Jammu, authorities to provide adequate quality of Breeder seed of the traditional variety of Basmati 370 to farmers so that production of certified seeds at seed multiplication farms would be increased. It was also recommended that SKUAST Jammu should work on improving grain length of Basmati 370 variety.

 The farmers, who were also present in the meeting, demanded introduction of efficient methods of irrigation and revival of regulation method of quality and quantity and imposing of ban on installation of illegal pump sets.

 The Director, Agriculture, also informed the meeting that the department is working out measures required for promoting cultivation of Basmati rice like providing incentives on use of quality Basmati seed, farm mechanization, best agronomic practices, area expansion, awareness programmes, and better irrigation facilities.

 Among others, Director, Agriculture, Jammu,  Ajay Khajuria, Director Ext. Education SKUAST Jammu Dr. K. S. Risam, SE Hyd. Circle Jammu  K. K. Gupta, Joint Director Information Jammu  Soujanya Sharma, XEN Irrigation Jammu, Prof. & Head, SKUAST Jammu, President R S Pura Rice Grower’s Association, Choudhary Dev Raj and other senior officers of various department also participated in the meeting.

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