Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 13: Director Horticulture Jammu Raj Kumar Katoch conducts extensive tour of Doda and Ramban Districts where he inspected Government fruit plant nurseries at Kotli Bhaderwah, Khelani and Batote.
He was accompanied by Chief Horticulture Officer Doda Madan Lal Tak, District Horticulture Officer Doda Shakeel Ahmed, District Level Subject Matter Specialist Revti Raman and Horticulture Development Officers Abid Hussan Tantry, Rahat Bashir and Rohan Kumar.
Director instructed the Incharge Nurseries to strengthen the existing infrastructure in the nursery and the gardening staff to keep the nursery area free from weeds and pests which interferes with production and productivity.
He directed the concerned officers to give special emphasis on production of quality planting material for the farmers by using latest propagation techniques besides preserving germplasm of such planting material for further propagation of the fruit plants.
On spot instructions were given to the nursery staff for the execution of time bound nursery operations. He stressed for judicious use of inputs keeping in view the requirement of the fruit plants.
He emphasized making of nursery inventories on modern lines and to display on nursery boards for first hand visual assessment of existing infrastructure in the nurseries. He also enjoined upon the officers to enhance the revenue of the nurseries and achieve the revenue targets already allotted and further develop the nurseries on scientific lines.
Later, the Director inspected the Fruit Preservation and Utilization Centre at Bhaderwah where he was apprised about various training programmes being conducted in the centre.
Director enjoined upon the officers to conduct such training programmes in rural areas so that the farmers can get extra income with their surplus produce with value addition.
Katoch was briefed by the Chief Horticulture Officer regarding the potential of the departmental nurseries which not only cater the demands of the district but also meet up the demands of the fruit plants of the adjoining Districts. The Nurseries of Doda District has huge potential of producing temperate fruit plants viz. apple, walnut, pear and plum.
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