Gurez, May 13: The Hon’ble Member Legislative Assembly (MLA) Gurez, Nazir Ahmad Khan, visited Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) Gurez and appreciated the novel agricultural interventions being implemented at the centre under the guidance of SKUAST-Kashmir.
During the visit, the MLA took a detailed tour of several pioneering initiatives, including the region’s first-ever Tulip garden in Gurez Valley, Kala Zeera (black cumin) domestication fields, a newly established Lavender demonstration yard, and a Medicinal & Aromatic Plants (MAPs) germplasm bank.
These projects are aimed at promoting agricultural diversification, sustainable farming practices, and agri-tourism in the region.The MLA termed the Tulip cultivation initiative a “great success” and said that it would significantly boost tourism and open new avenues for local development.
He appreciated the vision of the Hon’ble Vice-Chancellor of SKUAST-Kashmir, Prof. Nazir Ahmad Ganai, and the support of the Director Extension, Prof. Raihana Habib Kanth, for strengthening agriculture and improving the livelihoods of tribal farmers.He also praised the Head of KVK Gurez and the entire team for their dedicated efforts in introducing innovative technologies and promoting heritage crops for the benefit of farmers in the valley.
On the occasion, an awareness-cum-input distribution programme under the TSP-ICAR funded project was also organized. During the programme, various farming toolkits were distributed free of cost among tribal farmers, especially aimed at reducing drudgery for farm women and improving agricultural efficiency.