Farmers reap dividends, as Karnah turns to double cropping; Farming community hail the efforts of DC Kupwara

KUPWARA : Landlocked Karnah Sub division of Kupwara district is presenting a scintillating look these days due to its blossoming fields as rabi crops are in the final stage of ripening and will be harvested soon.

Farmers of Karnah valley, where most of the area falls in Sub-tropical agricultural Zone, are reaping good dividends as they have turned to double cropping.

Farmers are leaving no stone unturned to take the benefits of conducive and favorable temperature and timely interventions of Agriculture schemes.

Farmers in consultation with agriculture experts have switched to double cropping to take maximum benefits from their fields.

Today’s farmer community is well informed and educated, they have realized that they have to become Self-sufficient in the agriculture sector to counter the skyrocketing prices of edible oils and vegetables.

Most of the farmers of Chamkote, Chiterkote, Teetwal, Dringla, Drugad, Gundi-Gujjaran, Gundi Sayedan, Chanipora, Dildar and Kandi have now switched to cultivation of  Mustard oil seeds. Apart from this they grow Oats, Wheat, Peas, onion, Garlic, Cabbage, Carrot, Radish, Knol-khol and other varieties of organic vegetables to meet the local demands as prices of edible oils and vegetables are continuously skyrocketing.

Adopting double cropping on modern line,  farmers of Karnah have become an inspiration for other areas of Kupwara as farmers are fully utilizing both Rabi and Kharif  agricultural seasons and getting full dividends from their fields.

In most areas of Karnah valley, during Rabi season (which starts from October and lasts upto May), farmers cultivate Oats, Mustard, Wheat, Peas, Onion, Garlic and other varieties of vegetables. In the Kharif season they grow Rice, Maize and pulses.

Farmers are taking keen interest in Mustard and organic vegetable cultivation from the past two years in the Rabi season as the agriculture area under Mustard and vegetable cultivation is increasing day by day.

“This year,  Karnah is witnessing increased mustard and vegetable cultivation because of the reasons of  price of edible oils and vegetables  have soared”, farmers said while hailing the efforts of Deputy Commissioner, Kupwara Dr. Doifode Sagar Dattatray, who has streamlined agriculture department in the district.

Agriculture department in Karnah is working very hard to revive mustard and vegetable cultivation.

National Mission on Oil seed is also helping farmers to revive the Mustard cultivation in Rabi season in Karnah sub division. The Agriculture department is giving several incentives to the farmers who switch to double cropping.

Chamkote and Chitterkote villages of Karnah are leading in vegetable production and producing fresh organic vegetables to other villages of Karnah during the Rabi season which is a major positive sign in the agriculture sector.

Besides citrus fruits like Lemon and oranges are being grown in villages like Teetwal, Seemari and Dragged.

Zahoor Ahmad Lone, Agriculture Extension Officer, Tangdhar said that, Agriculture department is working on a mission mode to motivate farmers so that farmers adopt  double cropping on modern scientific lines.

“With the help of the National Mission on Oil-Seed, we are making efforts to revive and priorities Mustard oil seed cultivation. We provide  high yielding seeds of Mustard to farmers on subsidized rates through our agricultural zonal stores” A.E.O said.

He added that  “We continuously impart awareness and training to farmers to go for double cropping on modern scientific lines, besides we undertake regular field visits, so that in coming years not an inch of farm land remains fallow in Karnah during Rabi season”