Farmers In Pulwama Village Leads In Producing High Quantity Of Pea
Pulwama: The farmers in Patalbagh village of South Kashmir’s Pulwama district have grabbed a significant share in the vegetable market in Jammu and Kashmir.
Irshad Ahmad, a young farmer growing pea crop from last many years said “their village is gaining share in the vegetable market and they eye on different Indian states in future.” Adding “we produce pea in April when its in high demand in other states like Banglore.”
He further said “they sold pea produced worth Rupees 1 crore and 20 lakh this season which is 16 lakh more than previous year.” Adding “the soil of the area is very fertile for producing vegetables.”
He said, “if farmers are guided properly by agriculture department they can produce decent quantity of vegetables for other states and farmers will no longer grow banned crops like poppy which is used for making fukki and other narcotic derivatives.”
“They earn about Rupees 25 thousand on peas produced on one kanal of land”, said a farmer Mushtaq Ahmad at Patalbagh. Adding “deducting expenses of Rupees 5 thousand on cost of labour, seed and fertilizer, one kanal yields a profit of 20 thousand.”
He also appealed people to turn to vegetable cultivation and do away with practice of raising banned crops like poppy.
Around 100 families in Patalbagh village on the banks of river Jhelum near Galandar area of Pampore produce pea on 350 kanals of land.
“A small village earning Rupees 1 crore and 20 lakh is a big thing”, said Director Agriculture Kashmir Syed Aijaz Andrabi.
He said, “Everybody is excited with it and it will surely help in alleviating their economic conditions.” Adding “the village will be adopted as vegetable cluster where 25 hecters of land has been enmarked for commercial vegetable cultivation.”
“The department will provide refrigerator vans to the farmers for transportation of the vegetables to other states. Besides they will be given 50 percent subsidy on purchase of high quality hybrid seeds, technical guidance, irrigation facility and green houses”, he said.
Story: Mudasir Maqbool
(Mudasir Maqbool is a Pulwama based Journalist)
