STATE TIMES NEWS
POONCH: “Surankote and Mandi areas in district Poonch are to be taken up for high density apple plantation during the current year by the Horticulture department”, this was informed by the Director Horticulture Jammu during an interaction programme held with the fruit growers at Surankote.
MLA Surankote Akram Choudhary presided over the meet which was attended by a large number of fruit growers from Surankote, Potha, Dhandi-Dhara, Ghunthal, Sangla, Marhot, Buffliaz and Lassana Zones besides Panchs and Sarpanchs
Director Horticulture Jammu A.K Sharma informed that the department has succeeded in establishing high density plantation of Apple procured from CITH Srinagar at Mirzamore in Surankote during the last year on an area of one Hectare with integrated micro-irrigation system. He impressed upon the growers to adopt high density plantation raised on malling series root stock of apple with integrated micro-irrigation system so as to have returns from fourth year onwards.
Sharma also asked the field staff to shape the orchard as a showcase so that other beneficiaries come forward to establish more o such high density orchards in these areas for which an attractive incentive of Rs. 0.75 lakh per Hectare is being provided by the department. Besides this, a subsidy amount of Rs. 0.50 lakh for vermicompost unit and 0.90 lakh for creation of water source in the shape of shallow well, Dugwell and water harvesting tank is also provided by the department.
Chief Horticulture Officer, R.K Koul, District Horticulture Officer Mohammad Iqbal Bhatti, Horticulture Development Officers and other officials of the department were also present.
