Another South Kashmir village is set to witness fragrance of ‘Mushk Budji’

Sameer Ahmad

Anantnag: After Sagam kokernag village, which is known for the Mushk Budji, Kashmir’s indigenous traditional and short, bold, scented-rice variety, the another south kashmir village Kamad Dialgam which is about 4 km away from the district headquarter Anantnag is all set to cultivate the aromatic rice—Mushk Budji, official sources told to Arising state.

Official sources said that the department of Agriculture in Anantnag district with a mission to double farmers income has laid a demonstration at village Kamad Dialgam for cultivation of aromatic rice Mushk Budgi, however, the crop has been grown successfully and shows promising yield parameters.

About 200 hectare are now fit and suitable for the growth of Mushk Budji in the Kamad Dialgam area which will boost the socio economic status of farmers in that area, said Tehseena Jan AEA Ashjipora to Arising state.

The village is mainly an agriculture village comprising approximately 600 ‘cholas’ (households) spread our an area of 2 square meter and is about 4 km from Anantnag headquarters Anantnag towards south facing peer panchal.

The agriculture activities in the village has not given them much of the economic dividends in terms of Employment and livlihood. but the recent experimental done by agriculture department is hoped to prove panacea for the already dipping economy of the village in terms of GDP.

Talking to Arising State, a local farmer said that if proper market implementation and identification of marketing windows are created, will help to pump the economic currency in households of common village.

The village was declared as backward which give the village populace opportunity to excel in different professional spheres especially healthcare engineering agriculture, so and so forth, however the general people of the village couldn’t benefit much from the backward status granted to the village, he said.

Meanwhile, Talking to Arising State, Chief Agriculture officer Anantnag Aijaz Ahmad said that Muski Budji as an aromatic paddy crop is known to be native crop of sagam area and is known worldwide due to its unique/ distinguished aroma.

With Mushk Budji getting geographical indication (G1) tag the quintal of Mushkibudji rice costs Rs 20,000, a team of Department of agriculture led by AEA Ashajipora Tehseena Jan laid a demonstration at village Kamad Dialgam for cultivation of this aromatic variety of paddy. “The crop has been grown successfully and shows promising yield parameters.”