50,000 Lilium bulbs and 12,237 quintals seeds distributed

Srinagar, May 4 (UNI) In order to encourage the commerical floriculture in the Kashmir valley, Jammu and Kashmir Agriculture department has distributed 50,000 bulbs of lilium among the farmers.

The department has also provided 12,237 quintals of high yielding varieties of crop seeds to the farmers of the valley to obtain the desired agricultural production and upliftment of the sections directly associated with it.

This information was given to Minister for Agriculture Abdul Aziz Zargar during a meeting here, an official spokesman said.

He said the Minister was informed that during current Kharif season, under the bulb and seed development and cut flower production programme, 50 thousand bulbs of Lilium had been distributed on subsidized rates to encourage the commercial floriculture in the valley.

Mr Aziz was told that 3,517 quintals Paddy, 375 quintals Hybrid Maize , 20 quintals Vegetable seeds, 1280 Fodder, 950 quintals Pulses had been distributed among the farmers.

Besides about 600 quintals of paddy seeds through centrally sponsored scheme infrastructure development programme, were produced at farmer's to boost agriculture production.

A target of 1.55 lakh hectare of land has been fixed to be brought under high yielding variety of paddy cultivation, 1 lakh hectare under maize, 6.500 hectare under fodder, 14 thousand hectare under pulses and 18.800 hectare under vegetable cultivation.

Mr Aziz was informed that under the Watershed Project in Kashmir division it has been implemented at 50 places for which Rs one crore and 27 lakhs has been incurred so far.

UNI