Bhalla inspects fruit plant nursery Bijbehara ‘Calls for effective implementation of Horticulture Mission in State’ ANANTNAG, JUNE 16-Minister for Horticulture, Housing and Culture Mr. Raman Bhalla today conducted an extensive tour of District Anantnag to get feedback of the various activities being carried out in saving the orchards from any kind of disease and issued directions to the Horticulture officers for sensitizing the owners of the orchards about the medicines to be useful for saving their earning avenues. Interacting with the officers of Horticulture Department after inspecting Fruit Plant Nursery, Bijbehara in Anantnag district here, the Minister asked the officers to gear up their men and machinery for effective implementation of Horticulture Mission (HM) in the state. Mr. Bhalla said that Jammu and Kashmir has tremendous potential of exporting fruit to other markets of the Country and asked the officers to explore new markets with all infrastructural facilities to promote state’s horticulture produce across the country. He called upon the fruit and vegetables growers to avail the benefits of schemes like Horticulture Mission for North East and Himalayan States, Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana, National Mission on Micro Irrigation and Agriculture Technology Management Agency. The Minister said Government has already taken a number of steps to encourage farmers for developing of high-quality fruit trees to fetch optimum returns. He also asked the concerned officers to make all the departmental nurseries fully functional. He said that the Government has proposed to set up a Walnut Board in the State to give boost to the Walnut production in a big way on scientific lines. He said emphasizes will be also laid on the value addition of walnut kernels, adding that the Jammu and Kashmir State enjoys monopoly on this fruit. Mr. Bhalla said need of the hour is to exploit the optimum potential in the sector by setting up of walnut scientific processing units in various areas of the State. He said that the sector can be an economic engine of the State in general and farming community in particular as horticulture is the back bone of the State’s economy. He called for close coordination between Horticulture and Sher-e-Kashmir Agriculture University of Sciences and Technology (SKAUST-K) so that maximum farmers are benefited. He directed for judicious use of funds available under the horticulture sector. He said various centrally sponsored schemes are meant for the farmers with an aim to improve their living standard. He appealed the farmers to come forward and take advantage of these schemes. The Minister directed the officers to provide hi-yielding varieties of plants to the farmers and said that there will be no compromise on quality of the material being provided to the needy persons. He directed them to sensitize the farmers about the latest technologies of science so that the same could be percolating to the growers in the field. He said there is also need to train the horticulture interventions, adding that the university needs to draw up a calendar of short term training programme to be conducted either at the varsity or by way of workshops to be held in the office premises of the department across the valley. Mr. Bhalla asked the officers to ensure High Mast Lights, Laboratory blocks, weighing bridge, Guest House, DG Set, macadamized road besides drainage facilities in every fruit and vegetable markets in the State. He said all efforts are being made to facilitate the traders with improved facilities by constructing kiosks, earth filling of waste land, installation of plasma screens which highlighting the prevailing prices of horticulture produces in the country. Chief Horticulture Officer, Anantnag along with his team of officers gave him detailed account of developmental activities being carried out in the district. The Minister was apprised that the whole of the nursery area has been taken up for cultivation of high density plantation of different kinds of fruits crops, in an attempt to ensure a shift from traditional cultivation of fruits crops. Moreover, demonstration of micro-irrigation plant (drip/sprinkler irrigation system) recently installed in the nursery was undertaken which was appreciated by the Minister.
Posted on: Mon, 17 Jun 2013 04:52:16 +0000
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