JAMMU: Minister of State for Education, Technical Education, Culture, Tourism, Horticulture, Floriculture and Parks, Priya Sethi on Saturday said that Jammu and Kashmir has huge potential in horticulture and the government is committed to provide all possible support to fruit growers to promote fruit production in the state in a big way. The minister was speaking after inaugurating first of its kind Mango Show here.
Vice Chairman, J&K State Advisory Board for Development of Kisans Daljeet Singh Chib, MLA Akhnoor Rajeev Sharma, MLA Khour Krishan Lal Bhagat, Secretary to Government, Horticulture department M H Malik were also present on the occasion.
Different varieties of mangoes including including Dasehri, Amarpali, Malta, Fazli, while a total of 1691 entries were entertained in the event organized by the department of Horticulture. Stressing on the relation between grower and horticulture department, the minister urged the growers to come up with their suggestions/experiences so that required improvements could be made by the department. “It is high time to link technological interventions with traditional way of fruit growing”, the Minister said. Priya Sethi said that adequate promotion needs to be given to different schemes launched under horticulture sector so that those living in rural areas could get benefit of the same. While highlighting the initiatives of the government to promote mango production, Priya Sethi said that two Mango villages are being established at Akhnoor and Khour blocks and under the project an area of 100 hectare in each village will be covered in 4 years starting from 2016-17. The areas have been identified and pit designs for plantation has almost been completed, while about 5000 mango plants will be planted in first year, she added. Highlighting various initiatives taken by the department of Horticulture for the benefit of fruit growers, MLA Khour said that the soil testing facility is being provided to them so that they can get the maximum benefit out of it.
On the occasion, stalls were setup by floriculture department, SKUAST and private companies. Farming tools, equipments were also exhibited during the show. Literature containing important information for fruit growing/farmers was also provided to the participants. It was informed that in Jammu division, 12754 hectares of area is under Mango cultivation and the production is 23855 metric tonnes.
The Minister also distributed prizes to the participants of the Mango show. Kuldeep Raj bagged the prize of ‘Fruit of the show’ while Nitya Anand, Mohammad Ashraf and Rakesh Singh won 1st and 2nd prizes respectively.
Among others, Director Horticulture Jammu, A K Sharma, Director Floriculture Jammu, K K Sharma, Director Extension SKUAST Jammu were present.