Srinagar,10-May;For on spot assessment of damage caused tovege tables, fodder crops, mustard crops by the recent hailstorm in specific pockets of Budgam district, Director Agriculture Kashmir held an extensive visit of affected villages.Director Agriculture Kashmir Chowdhary Mohammad Iqbal along with Deputy Director Agriculture Planning Mohammad Younis Chowdhary, and other officers of the Department made an extensive visit to Parisabad and its adjoining villages where heavy damage was noticed to the agriculture crop in the farmers fields.A number of deputations of farmers also met Director Agriculture and reported the damage to vegetables, mustard and other crops.Talking to the farmers Director Agriculture said the Department would take all the necessary steps to mitigate the damage caused by the hailstorm to the agriculture crops.While discussing the issues related to the prevailing conditions Director Agriculture said that the immediate mitigation steps have already been initiated and the department is committed to safeguard the interests of the farming community of the region. Instructions were issued by the Director Agriculture to field officers to immediately make a detailed assessment of the losses and the concerned chief Agriculture officer have been advised to furnish the crop wise and area wise damage reports within three days so that the issue is taken up with the concerned authorities of Government for consideration of affected areas as hit by the natural calamity.Director Agriculture asked the concern officers, technical experts to work in close coordination with the affected farmers and provide with them every necessary support so that the overall impact could be minimized.(CNS)
