Horticulture Deptt hosts Farmers’ awareness camp at Panchayat Mallah

Jammu: Department of Horticulture Block Khour today organised farmers’ awareness camp under the chairmanship of Director Horticulture Jammu, Ram Savak, here at panchayat Mallah.

A large number of progressive farmers participated in the camp. District Development Council member, Bushan Kumar Bral; Sarpanch Mallah, Naresh Paul; Panch Krishan lal and other PRI members along with the representatives from SKUAST Jammu, NAFED and private companies also attended the camp.

Speaking on the occasion, the Director Horticulture highlighted the rising demand of quality fruits for their health benefits. He said quality fruit can be grown by following the application of proper spray schedules that have minimum residual effects. He said that fruits like mangoes, apples, grapes can leave harmful effects on health if these things are not taken proper care of. He stated that this programme has been organized to promote production of quality mangoes that will have minimum residual effect and safe for consumption and for that experts from different institutions like SKUAST, APEDA, NABARD have been consulted.

He further stated it being the start of mango season with the crop still in flowering stage, the farmers should take care of such things right from the beginning to produce export quality fruits for getting good returns.

Chief horticulture officer Jammu, Sarbjit Singh, also made the farmers aware about the production of quality and healthy fruit. He said the best course will be to allow mangoes to ripe naturally and the most commonly used chemical is called Ethephon (2-chloroethylphosphonic acid) which is safer and also enhances production. He asked the farmers to avoid the use of calcium carbide as it is full of problems.

CCI Jammu, Vikas Anand informed the farmers regarding the schemes of the department. DLSMS Entomology Dr Sanjeev Kumar also delivered a lecture on management of insect pests in fruit crops. The DLSMS Pomology, Dr Sandeep Gupta made farmers aware about organic cultural practices to be adopted for production of fruits that can fetch better prices to the farmers in the market. The DDC and Sarpanch Mallah appreciated the efforts of the Horticulture Department for conducting such a fruitful camp in the far-flung area of Khour block.

All the SOPs for COVID-19 were followed and people were also imparted awareness regarding the precautions against COVID-19 Pandemic.

Vote of thanks was delivered by HDO khour.