Sham asks officers to develop latest fruit varieties

 Srinagar, October 13 (Scoop News) –Disclosing new strategies devised by the Government to compete with other States in horticulture market, Minister for Horticulture & Floriculture,  Sham Lal Sharma today expressed hope that this year, despite low apple production in the State, record revenue will be generated.

Maintaining that a great thrust has been laid on the quality control and meeting the supply demand, the Minister said the Government has entered in new areas to popularize fresh and dry fruits in order to provide good rates to the farmers this year. He said an over whelming response has been received from the new markets and efforts are being made to meet the demands. After the experience of this year, the strategies for the coming years will be devised accordingly, he added.

Addressing the scientists and horticulture officers at a velidictory function of 3-day training programmes held at Central Institute of Temperate Horticulture (CITH), Rangrate, the Minister stressed the need for introducing latest high yielding varieties of various fruits suiting to the State’s climatic conditions to give boost to the horticulture production, which is mainstay of State’s economy. He also stressed for identifying new areas for horticulture development to improve the socio-economic conditions of the farmers. He said horticulture and floriculture have great potential in State and all out efforts should be made to explore the same, particularly in the Jammu division.

 Sham lauded the efforts of the CITH for promoting horticulture in Jammu and Kashmir and providing necessary support to the State government for boosting the fresh and dry fruit production. He asked the Director, CITH, Dr. Nazeer Ahmed to extend the activities at the block level and arrange awareness workshops for sensitizing the farmers so that more and more farmers, especially the youth are get attracted to adopt the horticulture activities for their livelihood. He also impressed upon the State horticulture officers to ensure close coordination with the CITH and avail benefits of latest technologies and varieties being developed by it. He asked the officers to utilize the new experience gained from the workshop at the grass root level for the benefits of the farmers.

Director, CITH highlighted the importance of organizing the training programme. He said the officers have been acquainted with latest technologies to give boost to the horticulture production and trends of marketing. The aim of holding the training programme was to update the officers about the latest techniques and varieties of different fruits and vegetables. He said that frequent interactions are being held with the officers of State Government as also technical workshops are organized at various places to educate the farmers.

The training programme was organized by CITH in collaboration with the CCS National Institute of Agriculture Marketing, Jaipur. 

Director, Horticultures, Kashmir and Jammu divisions Dr. G. H. Shah and  Jia Lal Sharma, Managing Director, JKHPML, Syed Rariq, horticulture officers and farmers from across the State were present in the function.