UDHAMPUR, Aug  7:  The District administration Udhampur has decided to open special outlets for sale of Non-Pesticide agriculture produce as part of the Non Pesticide Management (NPM) project being implemented in 13 Panchayats of Chenani block.  

Speaking at one day workshop on Non Pesticide Management (NPM) organized by Jammu and Kashmir State Rural Livelihood Mission (JKSRLM) here today, the chief guest District Development Commissioner, Udhampur, Dr. Shahid Iqbal said that Non Pesticides Management Project is an initiative to reduce the cost of cultivation by promoting agriculture without pesticides and chemical fertilizers which would help to make agriculture economically viable without compromising on yield.

He also complimented the UMEED Parivar especially the women of Village organizations for the success of the project at Chenani.   The DDC stressed upon the officers of line departments to make coordinated efforts for better implementation of the project.  He emphasized for providing better market for the sale of produce of NPM. For the purpose, he assured that market outlets would be opened at Udhampur and Chenani for better returns to farmers on sale of NP produce.  

Dr. Shahid called upon the resource persons and REZs for providing best training to the farmers for optimal results on the ground. He asked PO DRDA to make profile of new trainings and raw material required for making good produce under UMEED.During the workshop, Mission Director (MD), UMEED, Arun Manhas highlighted the aims and objectives of the project. He said presently NPM is being implemented as a pilot project in the district by covering 13 gram panchayats of the block Chenani. He said NPM aims at promoting sustainable agriculture through reduction of the cost of cultivation by avoiding chemical fertilizers and pesticides. He said that the NPM is focused on enhancement of natural resource base with special focus on small and marginal farmers.

He said that NPM shop has been opened at Kossar to sell NPM vegetables and other produce and is managed by women folk of the area.  As many as 400 farmers are covered under NPM with the involvement of 153 Kanals of land.Among others, Project Officer, DRDA, Dr. Jagdish Mehra, District Information Officer, Dr Ashwani Hansa, Divisional Forest Officer, Social Forestry, Chief agriculture Officer, officers of the line department, women in large numbers attended the workshop.