One Day Workshop on “Production of Basmati Rice for Export” Organized at Sherpur, Hiranagar

Kathua, 23 Aug: A Department of Agriculture Production and Farmers’ welfare Kathua organized One Day Workshop on “Production of Basmati Rice for Export” in collaboration with Basmati Export Development Foundation under Agricultural Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) at Sherpur, Hiranagar, Kathua to boost export from basmati Growing Regions of Kathua District thereby  harnessing their potential of agricultural produce exports. 

 Joint Director (Extension), Agriculture Production & FW, Jammu Sh. R.K Hiteshi, Chief Guest on the occasion highlighted the importance for the production of quality Basmati of international standards. He exhorted the farmers to increase the area under basmati cultivation which will help in raising their income and also use judicious chemicals in paddy production so that international quality pesticide free basmati rice can be produced.

Chief Agriculture Officer, Kathua Sh. Sanjeev Rai Gupta said thrust has been made by Department of Agriculture Production and Farmers Welfare to aware the Farmers to promote export quality (Pesticide residue free) Basmati in Kathua’s Basmati growing regions. He said, during 2022-23, 6940 Ha of land in Kathua was under quality Basmati Cultivation with average Yield of 27 Qtl./ Ha producing 186680 Qtls. of good quality Basmati Rice.

Dr. Netra Pal Sharma, Senior Scientist, BEDF (Basmati Export Development Foundation) under APEDA gave detailed technical lecture on “Good Agricultural Practices” for the production of Basmati meeting International standards. He informed that India is No. 1 Exporter of Basmati in the world and Jammu Basmati is most sought after. There is great scope for area expansion and doubling of farmers income by producing pesticide residue free Basmati for export.

 Sh. Vishal Sharma, Scientist, deliberated upon good quality Basmati Production and covered all aspects of Integrated Pest Management / Integrated Disease Management underlining judicious use of insecticides/fungicides.

Dr. Vishal Mahajan, Head, Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Kathua  deliberated upon the use of Organics for production of Basmati Rice ,simultaneously assured transfer of technological advancements and new researches to farmers at every crop stage.

The successful workshop concluded with a “vote of thanks “by Sh. Murari Digra, District Agriculture Officer (Extension) , Kathua and participation of large number of Basmati growers. Other officers and officials present were Sh. Rajiv Katoch, Programme Coordinator, Sh. Rajesh Mankotia ( Subject Matter Specialist- District Level), Sh. Anil Kumar, Assistant Soil Chemist, Soil Testing Lab, Kathua, Sh. Purshottam Gupta, Sub divisional Agriculture Officer, Kathua, Sh. Ashwani Sharma, Sub Divisional Agriculture Officer, Hiranagar, H.Q Dayalachack, Sh. Sanjiv Mehta and Sh. Surinder Sharma, Subject Matter Specialists-Sub Division Level, Sh. Parmod Kumar, Agriculture Extension Officer, Kathua , Dr. Shivali Sharma and Smt Pooja Andotra, District Nodal Officer, Women Self Help Groups, Kathua.