KATHUA: The Department of Horticulture Kathua organised one-day training programme on ‘Improved Practices for Horticultural Crops’ under Sub-Mission for Agriculture Extension (SMAE) – Mission for Agriculture Extension and Technology (ATMA) on Wednesday at Multipurpose Hall of Govt. Degree College for Women, Kathua.
More than two hundred farmers / fruit growers from Kathua, Barnoti and Hiranagar Blocks participated in the training programme. Chief Horticulture Officer Kathua S. Tarvinder Singh while addressing the farmers, advised them to take keen interest in the training programme and try to learn the latest scientific/ improved techniques regarding the cultivation of the fruits crops so that they can get maximum quality production and earn maximum benefits from their fruit orchards. Project Coordinator Krishi Vigyaan Kendra (Kathua), SKUAST Jammu, Dr. Amrish Vaid with his resource persons participated in the programme and briefed the participants about the different insect pests/diseases of fruit crops and their control measures.
District Horticulture Officer Kathua Surinder Kumar Shair, DLSMS (Pomology), Kathua Jyoti Prasad, HDO Kathua Dr. Anju Bala, HDO Barnoti Sandeep Gupta, HDO Hiranagar Varinder Sharma besides other HDOs and field functionaries participated in the programme. Jyoti Parsad impressed upon the farmers to adopt the cultivation of cash crops like strawberry as it has immense potential in the area. Karan Singh, Sarpanch Langote, Jagdish Chander, Mohinder Pal and Paramjeet Sharma were among the progressive orchardists who shared their experiences regarding horticultural activities with the participants. District Horticulture Officer Kathua urged upon the fruit growers to avail the incentives available under various schemes and programmes of the department and presented vote of thanks.