Director Horticulture Jammu launches Fruit Plantation Drive at Akhnoor

JAMMU : As the spring season is suitable for planting of fruit plants, the Department of Horticulture Jammu is making all out efforts to generate awareness among the farming community about the plantation of fruit crops during the season.

The Department of Horticulture Jammu under the chairmanship of its Director, Ram Savak, today conducted One day Farmers’ Awareness cum Interaction Programme at village Sayal, Nardi of Horticulture Zone Akhnoor. Chief Horticulture Officer Jammu S. Sarbjeet Singh, DL Subject Matter Specialist Sandeep Gupta, and HDOs Amit Saraf & Varinder Sharma besides a large number of farmers/ fruit growers & PRI members attended the event.

Addressing the gathering, Ram Savak briefed the farmers about the Central and UT sponsored schemes of the department. He said that with highly suitable agro-climatic conditions, there is immense potential for horticulture crops in the area which must be tapped and appealed to the PRI members and field functionaries to work in tandem for doubling the farmers’ income.

He also discussed in detail the Holistic Agriculture Development Plan (HADP) and its execution with the PRI members.

Later, the Director Horticulture Jammu launched a plantation drive by planting a sampling of Citrus plant for compact plantation in a farmers’ field at village Sayal, Nardi, Akhnoor covering an area of 60 kanals.

He urged farmers to adopt integrated farming in their fields and avail the benefits of different components viz: Bore Well, Water harvesting tanks, Drip irrigation, Mechanization, Protected cultivation, Tools & Implements etc. for upliftment of their socio- economic status. Further, he impressed upon them to form Self Help Groups (SHG’s) for setting up of small fruit and vegetables processing units with the financial assistance from the department, henceforth which can play an important role in enhancing the family income.

Earlier, Ram Savak, as a Prabhari of Panchayat Lower Narayna of block Khour, chaired a review meeting regarding the decisions taken in the Back 2 Village 4 Programme. The representatives of various departments besides Sarpanch & Panches of the Panchayat participated in the meeting. The chair reviewed the progress of works undertaken for the overall development of the Panchayat and impressed upon the stakeholders to enhance the pace for their completion in a time bound manner.