Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 6: A text book on “Production Technology of Fruits” was released by former Minister and senior Congress leader, Sham Lal Sharma here today.
Mr Sharma in his address congratulated Dr Parshant Bakshi, Associate Professor, Division of Fruit Science, SKUAST-Jammu for all the efforts taken by him to come up with this publication. He emphasized that horticulture is the backbone of our State in general and Jammu region in particular as when he was Minister of Horticulture in Jammu, this sector has shown remarkable progress and this State is known for Horticulture.
He said that fruit growing is one of the important and paying branch of horticulture. It has been practiced here since times. This art and science has now developed into one of the most deviled, skillful and intensive forms of land utilization. He said Jammu region is blessed with varied agro-climates, soil condition and natural resources which are well suited for cultivation of fruit crops and confer a competitive edge in production and marketing of the produce available for export over an extended period.
Almost all types of tropical, sub-tropical, temperate and arid zone fruits are grown in one or other part of this region and are also ideal substitute for marginal and degraded lands which are otherwise unsuitable for field crops and help in diversification of agriculture. Horticulture contributes to 29.5 per cent of our agricultural GDP from 8.5 per cent area and 10 per cent of the total agricultural export earnings.
This book is intended to be a brief compilation of the information available on the fruit crops wherein, some important aspects of fruit production on training and pruning, weed management in fruit crops, rejuvenation of old orchards, hi-tech horticulture, climate change and biotechnology aspects and year round calendar of operations to be taken for fruit crops are very well written and documented. This book is primarily meant for the under-graduate and post-graduate students in the field of fruit production as well as fruit growers, nurserymen and extension workers engaged in the field of fruit prediction.
Follow our WhatsApp channel