Land under mustard cultivation increased from 3,000 ha to 1,40,000 ha in two years: Director Agriculture
Umaisar Gull Ganie
Srinagar, Mar 29 (KNO): The farmers across Kashmir are expecting better income this year as mustard fields are in full bloom with tourists enjoying to the fullest in the yellow fields.
Talking to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), the farmers from various areas of the valley said that this year the weather conditions remained favourable for mustard in winter due to which there is a better crop, and that they expect a better yield as well.
Mohammad Shaban a farmer from the Qazigund area of south Kashmir’s Anantnag district, said while there was less snowfall in the plains this year, however, the timely rains helped mustard crops to grow well.
“The mustard seeds provided by the Agriculture Department have grown well than our traditional seeds and we expect good income this year,” he said.
Farmers from other districts shared similar views and said they expect a good yield this year.
Director Agriculture Kashmir, Mohammad Iqbal Choudhary told KNO that some years ago, most people were not sowing anything on their land but after taking different parameters into consideration, most of the land was found favourable for the cultivation of mustard.
“As the Government of India started oil seed mission, we wrote to the Centre that we want to be part of it, following which they provided us with around 1,800 quintal seeds,” Iqbal said, adding that the land under mustard was increased from 3,000 hectares to 1,40,000 hectare in the last two years.
“Mustard crop has turned the valley into yellow colour. Tourists travelling to Kashmir Valley are also enjoying the mustard bloom from Qazigund to Srinagar along the Jammu Srinagar National Highway,” the Director Agriculture said.
Choudhary said also said the seeds provided by the Agriculture Department have doubled the yield of farmers and increased their income—(KNO)
