SRINAGAR: A divisional level training cum orientation programme on the ‘Formulation of 300 FPOs' (Farmers Producers Organization) was today held at Agriculture Complex Lalmandi, Srinagar.

The programme was inaugurated by the Director Agriculture Kashmir, Chowdhury Mohammad Iqbal.

Addressing the inaugural session of the divisional level training programme, the Director Agriculture highlighted the importance of FPOs for small farmers.

He said that small holders constitute a vast majority of farmers in the UT of J&K, in addition small holders are especially vulnerable to climate change aggregated weather events, like untimely rain, severe drought and floods, hailstorm and pest infestation any of which could wipe out their crops, therefore the FPOs play an important role and enables farmers to get the benefit of economies of scale.

He said FPOs help farmers to benefit from shared resources, get better access to the markets and latest technologies.

Director Agriculture asked the participants (officers of the allied departments) to work in coordination for the successful implementation of the projects under holistic development of agriculture and allied departments and allied sectors programme. He underlined the importance of collaborative approach for achieving the set targets under different projects.

The training programme was attended by the Joint Director (Inputs) Farooq Ahmad Bhat, Joint Director Apiculture and Mushroom Tabassum Naz, Professor Directorate of Research SKUAST-K Prof. Dr Naseer Ahmad Dar, Assistant Professor (S. Scale) Directorate of Extension SKUAST-K Dr. Mohammad Iqbal Bhat, Scientist KVK-Kupwara SKUAST-K Dr. Firdous Ahmad Raina, and officers of allied departments were present in the meet.