Indian Army’s 21 Rashtriya Rifles (GUARDS) under aegis of Headquarter 7 Sector Rashtriya Rifles organised a Farmer’s Mela at Horticulture Department, Tsogul. The mela witnessed an overwhelming response as over 100 local farmers thronged from the surrounding regions of Rajwar, Handwara, Mawar, Sopore and Rafiabad.
The aim of this Mela was to impart the training of ultra high density technique to farmers. It is imperative to highlight here that the land in North Kashmir is suitable for cultivation of pome fruit, stone fruit and berries. However, due to lack of education and technical knowledge, the farmers are resorting to low yield methods of cultivation which produce 16 to 17 plants per kanal of land. Consequently, Horticulture Department Tsogul had approached Headquarter 7 Sector Rashtriya Rifles to conduct this Mela to impart the knowledge of ultra high density technique through the use of modern practices like genetic engineering, grafting, pruing, trimming and fertilizing. This will enable the farmers to increase the output upto 166 plants per kanal.
The mela was conducted in two phases, phase one that is Theory Class (Ultra High Density Cultivation of Pome Fruits, Stone Fruit & Berries) and phase two, Practical Class on Grafting, Trimming, Pruning & Fertilizing.
The mela was witnessed by Brigadier Vikrant Patil, Sena Medal, Vishisht Seva Medal, Commander 7 Sector Rashtriya Rifles, Colonel Saurabh Sharma, Commanding Officer 21 Rashtriya Rifles (GUARDS), Mr Nazir Ahmad, Additional District Commissioner, Handwara, Mr Ashiq Hussain Akmal, District Horticulture Officer, Kupwara, Mr Nazir Ahmad Wani, Chief Agriculture Officer, Kupwara, Doctor Khurshid, Chief Animal Husbandry Officer, Kupwara, Doctor Hyder Kasim, District Sheep Husbandry Officer, Kupwara and other dignitaries from civil administration.
The Mela was a combined effort of the Army and Horticulture Department Tsogul and proved to be a great success as it met the aspirations of farmers. The event culminated with Army presenting pruning secateur as a gift to all farmers attendees and a vote of thanks by the Horticulture Department to the Army for its support.