DG Horticulture visits Gbl, inspects departmental nurseries/ orchards

Srinagar : The Director General (DG) Horticulture, Kashmir, Ajaz Ahmad Bhat Thursday visited Ganderbal to inspect various departmental nurseries and orchards including Tehsil Bagh, Kralbagh and Five Orchards Repora.
During his visit, the DG inspected various developmental activities/works being carried out in these nurseries. He was thoroughly briefed regarding the management practices being carried out.
Deliberating on the all-round economic and technological advancement of the Horticulture industry, the DG stressed on the need for diversification and zonalization of fruit cultivation in the valley. In this regard he gave on spot instructions to demarcate different nurseries for raising/ propagation of different fruit crops like grapes, strawberries and apples etc.
Speaking on the importance of Nursery Development, Bhat added that the main objectives of the Horticulture Department is to expand area under orchards, encourage diversification and zonalization of fruit plantation, production, and supply of genetically improved plants through departmental and private nurseries, improve productivity and quality through introduction of advanced technologies and ensure availability of plant protection machinery and equipment to the orchardists on subsidized cost for better pest and disease management
In the end, DG advised them to graft/propagate the maximum number of fruit plants besides maintaining the quality parameters.