Pays surprise visit to
Directorate of Horticulture Kashmir
SRINAGAR, JUNE 06: Terming
horticulture as the backbone of JK’s economy, the Minister for Horticulture, Syed Basharat Ahmed
Bukhari, today said that the sector has the potential to turnaround the
socioeconomic profile of Jammu & Kashmir. He said the Government is taking
a slew of measures to revamp and revitalize the Horticulture sector with some
innovative initiatives in the offing.
The Minster said this during a surprise visit to the Directorate
of Horticulture Kashmir, Directorate of Horticulture Planning & Marketing
and JKHPMC.
Secretary Horticulture Mohammad Hussain Malik and other officers
of the concerned Departments accompanied the Minister.
Bukhari inspected various sections in
and around the Directorate including Soil and Leaf testing laboratory, Mobile Soil Testing Lab,
Kissan Ghar, High Density Plantation, Meeting Halls and Guest House.
A team of experts at Soil and Leaf Testing Lab gave live demo of
various testes conducted in the lab to track health conditions of soil and
plantation.
The Minister said that horticulture industry has the capacity to
change the fortunes of not only the farming community but of the entire State
with its cascading benefits. He said currently horticulture sector of the state
produces 600 metric tons of fruit but it has potential to produce 50,000 metric
tons.
He said that the Government is committed to realize the objectives
to enhance the production and productivity of quality horticulture produces in
the State and with the
adoption of high-density plants the economic returns of farmers as well as of
State are sure to shoot up.
Bukhari said that the Department is taking
measures to draw forward-looking roadmaps through perspective planning for
improving quality and production of Horticulture crops by integrated
implementation of viable, eco-friendly, validated and refined technologies,
besides preparing a visionary document in the form of a Horticulture Policy for
next 20 years
He said that the current year would be observed as the year of
Apple and stressed for adopting multi
pronged approach for ensuring better yield and minimizing post harvest losses.
He also stressed that in order to improve the yield and cut losses the
Department should work together with farmers for promoting use of new
technologies and better farming practices.
Bukhari impressed upon the growers to come forward and avail full
benefits of various Government sponsored schemes, which he said with the proper
implementation would revolutionize the horticulture industry in the State. He
asked the growers to avail the facilities from the Departmental functionaries
to boost their produce.
The Minister directed the concerned for judicious use of funds and
urged them not to compromise on quality of work and asked the officers to
conduct frequent field visits and redress the issues and grievances of the
growers on priority.
He also directed concerned to take appropriate measures for
beautification, renovation and sanitation in and around the Directorate
premises.
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