Himachal News- Dr. Katoch says efforts to be made to open two agricultural colleges in state

Palampur, September 21, 2013: Sujan Singh Pathania, Agriculture Minister, Himachal has said the officials  attached to agriculture department  should  work for the sustained food security of the nation as it is integral to the national security.
He was addressing around 200 officers from the State Department of Agriculture, Scientists from the University and progressive farmers at CSK H.P. Agriculture University, at Palampur near Dharamsala on Saturday, in a state-level Agriculture Officers’ Workshop on Rabi crops. He said, “Country has traversed a glorious path of agriculture development due to the hard work of farming community, farm scientists and officers, yet this journey must continue with renewed enthusiasm.”
He said government has launched a number of programmes to increase food production and these must benefit the stakeholder in time. He also advised the department and the University to launch extensive training programmes for the farmers who are interested in cultivation of crops under protected cultivation so that they may not face any problem later.
The minister declared that each farm officer will be asked to adopt at least hundred farmers and train them to grow vegetables. He also asked the progressive farmers to spread the newly acquired scientific knowledge among other farmers.
In his presidential address, Dr.K.K.Katoch, Vice-Chancellor said, “CSK H.P. Agriculture University will adopt one or two poly-houses in each development block in the State to encourage the farmers in scientific farming under protected cultivation.”He underlined the need to judiciously use natural resources for optimum production.
Dr.Katoch said that efforts will be made to open two agricultural colleges in the State and reserve some seats for the children of farmers.
Dr.J.C.Rana, Director of Agriculture, also spoke on this occasion.