Orientation training for Plant Doctors held at Jammu

Jammu:A one day orientation programme for Plant doctors of Jammu Division was today organized by the joint Directorate of Agriculture (Extension) here in the Conference Hall.
The programme was held under the chairmanship of Director Agriculture Production & Farmers Welfare Jammu K. K. Sharma.
The Director Agriculture observed that major influencing factors of future Agriculture are Climate Change, Organic farming, and Weather Forecast. As such, successful farming is possible only if it is free from the instances of crop pests/Diseases by early diagnosis and recommendations based on IPM strategy and e Plant Clinics are the answer to this problem.
Lauding the role of Plant Clinics& CABI in mitigating the crop losses due to insect pests and diseases, he impressed upon the Plant Doctors to popularize the concept of Plant Health Clinics at grassroots level by staying in continuous touch with the farmers and conducting frequent farmers awareness programmes. He also highlighted the importance of a real time database to evaluate the likely pattern of Insect Pest/Diseases in a particular area and to formulate the early warning system for the farmers.
Later, the Director handed over the scientific apparatus and other logistic material among Plant doctors for successful and smooth running of the Plant Clinics. The material included Magnifying Glasses, Surgical Blades, Lab Aprons, Lawn Umbrellas, Table, Chair, Name Plates, and Flex etc.
Dr Vinod Pandit, Programme Leader, South Asia, CABI deliberated on problems being faced in successful functioning of Plant Clinic and underlined the need for proper publicity to Plant Clinic.
In charge of Plant Health Clinic Jammu, Arun Khajuria explained in detail about working of E Plant Clinics. The plant doctors were sensitized to be vigilant in the field for invasive insect pests and diseases and report as and when such incidence is noticed.
JK Kisan Advisory Board Member, S. T. S. Wazir advocated the further activating and strengthening of Plant Clinics.
Matters under discussion included formation of concrete plans for efficient functioning of e-Plant Clinics; proposal for holding e-Plant Clinics on weekly basis, proper monitoring and regular capacity building programme.
Others who expressed their views during the programme included Joint Director (Extension), Rajan Sharma, CAO Kathua, Vijay Uphadaya, PPO, Devinder Sharma. Programme officer, Sanjay Dhar conducted the proceedings of the programme.