The Minister for Horticulture, Syed Basharat Ahmed Bukhari today in presence of Minister of State for Horticulture, Priya Sethi inaugurated divisional level Pesticides Testing Laboratory at Directorate of Horticulture complex, Talab Tillo in Jammu.Built at a cost of Rs 45 lakhs, the Laboratory is equipped with state of art facilities including Gas Liquid Chromatograph, UV – Vis double beam Spectrophotometer and Double Distillation unit.The Minister said this first of its kind laboratory equipped with latest technology will go a long way in ensuring adherence to national standards of various horticulture produce along with keeping a check on the menace of sale of spurious pesticides in the province.“This will lead the state on the path of certified growth by regulating the use, quantity and quality of pesticides, fungicides and pesticides”, he stated.In her address, Priya Sethi said integrated approach with appropriate quality control is required to encourage farmers to adopt sustainable measures for boom in Horticulture sector.
Later, the Minister in presence of Minister of State for Horticulture, Priya Sethi chaired a Review Meeting of Horticulture Department for resolving various challenges and bottlenecks in its functioning.Bukhari said that the aim of government intervention at various stages of crop cultivation is to take policy making process to the grass root level thereby making it participative, transparent, efficient and potential, demand driven.The Minister directed the concerned to draw forward looking roadmaps through perspective planning for improving quality and production of Horticulture crops by integrated implementation of viable, eco-friendly, validated and refined technologies. He further entrusted the officers to prepare the visionary document for next four years within a week’s time.He stressed on developing horticulture zones for growing area specific horticulture crops having specific requirements for soil, temperature, moisture and precipitation. He exhorted upon the officers to submit area specific crop information in collaboration with SKUAST within 15 days.
The meeting was informed that Jammu province is divided into three climatic zones- sub tropical, intermediate and temperate; where farming community is being trained to reap benefits through new frontiers of science and technology for adopting vibrant, responsive and resilient horticulture practices based on principles of equity and sustainability.Earlier, the Director Horticulture presented a detailed presentation on the achievements of the department for the year 2016-17.Secretary Horticulture, M H Malik, Director Horticulture Jammu, Bhawani Rakwal, Director Enforcement, Dr Susheel Sawhney, Director Horticulture Planning and Marketing, Hafizullah Shah, all the Chief Horticulture Officers, District level subject matter specialists, manager cum chemists and other divisional level officers and Horticulture Officers were present in the meeting.