Fruit plant plantation drive launched in Akhnoor

Udhampur : The Department of Horticulture Jammu has started a major campaign to create awareness among the farming community about the plantation of fruit crops in the ensuing spring season.
Director Horticulture Jammu Ram Sevak, on Monday started a Fruit plants plantation drive by planting a sapling of Mango plant for compact plantation in a farmers’ field at village Kaandi, Akhnoor covering an area of 50 kanal. Chief Horticulture Officer Jammu Sarbjeet Singh, DL Subject Matter Specialist Sandeep Gupta and HDOs AmitSaraf and Varinder Sharma were also present on the occasion.
Later the Department conducted a one day Farmers’ Awareness cum Interaction Programme at the plantation site presided over by Director Horticulture Jammu. A large number of farmers besides Sarpanches&Panches of the area participated.
Addressing the farmers, Ram Savak briefed them about the various centrally and J&K sponsored schemes of the department. He said that with highly suitable agro-climatic conditions, there was immense potential for horticulture crops in the area which must be tapped. He appealed to the PRI members and field functionaries to work in tandem for doubling the farmers’ income. He said that in this Horticulture zone, about 100 hectares of area has been identified for High Density Plantation & 25 hectares for Aloe Vera Plantation in the coming season under CAPEX.
He urged farmers to adopt integrated farming in their fields and avail the benefits on 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 (SHGs) for setting up of small fruit and vegetable processing units with the financial assistance from the department, henceforth which can play an important role in enhancing the family income.
Later, Ram Savak, as the Prabhari of Panchayat Lower Narayna of block Khour chaired a meeting to review the implementation of decisions taken in the Back 2 Village 4 programme. The representatives of various departments besidesSarpanch&Panches of the panchayat participated in the meeting. The chair reviewed the progress of works undertaken for the overall development of the Panchayat and road map has also been prepared for the implementation of other works.