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Srinagar, May 16 (UNI) Jammu and Kashmir government has decided to import quality planting material from Holland for its propagation in the Kashmir valley.

The Kashmir valley has a potential to become major source of planting material for Commercial Flower Growers (CFG) of India, Mrs Sonali Kumar Principal Secretary to Agriculture Production department said.

Mrs Kumar said that the department is going to import quality planting material from Holland for its propagation in the Valley.

She said the industry has vast employment potential and could generate enough employment opportunities for the youth of the state.

She said the development of floriculture industry could not only improve the economy of the farmers, but also bring foreign exchange for the country.

Our state has climatic advantage and could develop seeds and planting material for indigenous use, she added.

She stressed upon the officers to work in close coordination with the farmers for the development of the commercial floriculture industry in the state.

Director Agriculture Kashmir Manzoor Ahmad Shah said that the department has introduced flower seed production in the valley under Area Expansion Technology Mission Programme.

For the purpose, he said, an area of about 100 kanals of land had been brought under flower seed production in the valley under the buy back programme.

He said that the seed were distributed free of cost by a company in collaboration with the Agriculture Department.

Mr Shah said that the Model Floriculture Center Ganderbal shall be upgraded during the current season and various new Floricultural Crops having commercial importance will be introduced.

Mrs Kumar approved the installation of Automatic Weather Forecasting Unit by the Meteorology Department Government of India at the farm.

The unit shall record the weather data of the District Ganderbal which can be of immense importance for the farmers of the district.

UNI BAS QAB AK HT1627