8650 hectares land under Kharif and Rabi crops in central Kashmir

Srinagar, May 18 (UNI) As many as 8650 hectares of land is under Kharif and Rabi crops in central Kashmir district of Badgam where farmers earn Rs 45 crore after exporting 50 per cent of their produce An official spokesman said Badgam is the major vegetable producing district in the valley and at present the area under vegetable farming was 4650 hectares under Kharif and 4000 hectares under Rabi crops.

Present level of production works out to be 1.78 lakh metric tons, he said, adding 50 per cent of which, amounting to Rs 45 crores, was being exported.

Vegetable cultivation is considered as thrust area in the development of the agriculture sector, especially in Badgam, district where the industry is already showing promising results.

He said more area was being brought under vegetable production under the Technology Mission Programme and the Macro Management Mode. Besides, different programmes, including spice development and protected cultivation, was being pursued to make vegetables available through out the year and increase cropping intensity and productivity.

He said during Kharif 2008, 935 quintals of Paddy Seed, 502 quintals of Potato and 111 quintals of Peas seed were distributed among the farmers.

UNI BAS FMH KD HT1248