Shopian: The Department of Agriculture, Shopian, in collaboration with allied departments, organized a grand Kisan Mela today at the Old Fruit Mandi Shopian.
The event provided a vital platform for aspiring and progressive agri-preneurs, as well as successful farmers, to showcase their products, services, and farm activities. The Mela also aimed to generate awareness about various government schemes designed to promote livelihood and employment opportunities.
The event was inaugurated by District Development Commissioner, Mohammad Shahid Saleem Dar, who emphasized the importance of agriculture and allied sectors in creating employment.
Post-inauguration, the DDC inspected various stalls set up by departments such as KVK, NRLM, Forests, and Agriculture, along with private agri-companies, progressive farmers, and self-employment departments. He interacted with participants and sought feedback on government schemes and their benefits.
Hundreds of people, including students, attended the Mela, which featured stalls offering insights into advanced agricultural practices, modern technologies, and innovative interventions. Visitors were also seen engaging in business transactions, exploring products like honey, mushrooms, poultry, fancy birds, seeds, farm machinery, and organic fertilizers.
Departments like Animal and Sheep Husbandry, Fisheries, Cooperatives, and Area Marketing facilitated on-the-spot registrations for employment schemes. Several progressive farmers shared their success stories and highlighted pressing issues such as high input costs in poultry farming and the sale of spurious pesticides.
Addressing the gathering, the DDC urged youth to capitalize on such events and enroll in self-employment schemes. He also discussed key issues, including drug abuse, illegal mining, and sanitation, seeking the community’s cooperation in tackling these challenges. The DDC highlighted the role of Kisan Khidmat Ghars established across the district in supporting and training farmers.
Farmers who demonstrated exceptional achievements in adopting advanced farming practices were felicitated during the event. District heads of Agriculture, Horticulture, Fisheries, and other allied sectors provided detailed presentations on schemes and innovations in their respective fields.
