Kathua Horticulture Dept. plans to transform old orchards into modern ones

Kathua: The Horticulture Department of Jammu and Kashmir has left no stone unturned to improve the horticulture sector in the entire valley, accelerate yields, and provide significant infrastructure facilities to farmers so that they can increase their economic conditions. Therefore, the department on Monday launched a campaign with an aim to revive old and senile orchards under the HADP project-21 to transform them into modern ones.

The event was launched by the Director of Horticulture, C. L. Sharma, at Jandi, Hira Nagar, of district Kathua, in the old mango orchards of beneficiaries, namely Rameshwar Singh and Ashwani Trahan, respectively. The director inspected the government fruit plant nursery, Ludhwaland, and took stock of ongoing developmental works taken up under the scheme MIDH.

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He stressed converting this nursery into a hi-tech garden center with all the modern facilities under NABARD. He directed the officer for preparation of DPR to focus on the developmental infrastructure, protection of crops, and cultivation structures. Besides this, the director interacted with the women trainees during the “One Day Training Camp on Fruit/Vegetable Preservation” at Amala, Barnoti.

Sharma asked them to get trained in the art of fruit and vegetable preservation, and the department will assist them in the setting up of micro food processing units for the value addition of fruit and vegetable products, which will provide employment opportunities to them.

Later, the Director chaired a meeting of the District Officers, Horticulture Development Officers, officials, and field functionaries of district Kathua and urged them to organize awareness camps, Kisan Goshthis, and so on. This is being done for the smooth implementation of governmental schemes, especially HADP, so that fruit growers can avail themselves of maximum benefit.