 Early Times Report
KATHUA, Nov 29: Shaleen Kabra, IAS, Financial Commissioner (Additional Chief Secretary) of Jal Shakti Department, Jammu and Kashmir (Union Territory), along with Dr. Rakesh Minhas IAS, District Development Commissioner, Kathua, and Sanjeev Rai Gupta, Chief Agriculture Officer, Kathua, visited the B.O.P Chak Changa Post on November 29, 2023. The purpose of the visit was to inspect the wheat crop cultivation across the zero line at the International Indo-Pak border in the Hiranagar sector during the Rabi season 2023-24.
Shaleen Kabra appreciated the collaborative efforts of the District Administration, Border Security Force, and the Department of Agriculture Production & Farmers Welfare, Kathua, for encouraging farmers in adjoining villages to cultivate abandoned land across the fence of the Indo-Pak border. He assured the farming community of all possible assistance, emphasizing the government's continuous support for the cultivation of seasonal crops at the Indo-Pak border each year. Kabra directed the District Administration, BSF, and the Department of Agriculture Production and FW, Kathua, to work in coordination with farmers to facilitate safe and secure wheat crop sowing across the fence.
Dr. Rakesh Minhas IAS commended the initiative taken by the Department of Agriculture Production and Farmers Welfare, Kathua, in promoting wheat crop sowing for consecutive seasons. He pledged complete support from the administration and the Border Security Force to ensure the safety of farmers in the region.
Sanjeev Rai Gupta, Chief Agriculture Officer, Kathua, expressed joy over the productive utilization of abandoned land by farmers in the border areas. He highlighted that the department has set a target of sowing wheat on 300 acres of land during the Rabi season 2023-24, and so far, 270 acres have been sown. The department has provided farm machinery, including tractors and cultivators, to farmers involved in border sowing. Sh. Gupta encouraged farmers to use mechanized methods, such as the Super Seeder, for effective wheat crop sowing.
Local dignitaries, including Karan Attri, DDC Member (Marheen), and Ashok Sharma (Naib Sarpanch Gopala Chak), thanked the Department of Agriculture for its consistent support and urged the farming community to collaborate with the department for better outcomes.
The visit witnessed the presence of other officials, including Murari Lal, District Agriculture Officer (Ext.), Kathua, Sh. Ashwani Sharma, Sub-Divisional Agriculture Officer, Dayalachak, Jamshed Andotra (AEO-Marheen), Narayan Singh (JAEO), Rajesh Sharma (JAEO), Sanjay Singh (AEA), Arun Sharma (AEA). |
