Secretary Horticulture Department, M. H. Malik conducted an extensive tour of village Sungal in block Akhnoor where Mango village is being established by the Department of Horticulture, Jammu.An area of 100 hectares shall be covered under mango village in a phased manner spread over 4 years. In the first year an area of 25 Hectares has been taken up wherein 2500 nos. of mango plants have been planted involving 31 beneficiaries. He inspected the different clusters of plantation of Mango in the village. The Secretary also interacted with the beneficiaries on the spot and listened to their problems and directed the field functionaries to impart technical know-how to the orchardists for better management and conduct regular field visits of the area to ensure success of the plantation.
During the course of interaction, the farmers requested the secretary for the provision of water sources and fencing for their orchards. The secretary instructed to ascertain the feasibility of the water harvesting tanks, bore wells, dug wells etc. The concept of organic farming shall also be incorporated in the coming years so that the area is declared organic.Deputy Director Horticulture (Central) Rajeev Mahajan, Chief Horticulture Officer Jammu, Y.K. Kesar , Horticulture Department Officers also accompanied the Secretary .Later Secretary Horticulture accompanied by SDM Akhnoor Sunaina Sharma also inspected Fruit & Vegetable Mandi, Akhnoor.