Advisor to Lieutenant Governor, K K Sharma today visited the Fruit and Vegetable Mandi, Narwal and Sub division Marh to review the implementation of guidelines for operation of permitted agricultural activities in the wake of coronavirus outbreak.During his visit to Mandi, President, Fruit & Vegetable Association and traders met Advisor. During the interaction, the Advisor assured the traders that government is committed to ease out the hardships of people following the spread of Covid-19.The advisor issued on spot instructions to the concerned officials to ensure completion of macdamization in Mandi, construction of canteen facility and to facilitate easy access to vegetable carriers.With regard to acquisition of Forest land for expansion of Mandi and construction of link road from Mandi to Gujjar Nagar Bridge via Balidaan Stambh to de-congest the traffic, the Advisor said the matter would be streamlined on priority basis.He urged people related with agricultural activities to ensure social distancing and follow all necessary protocols laid down by the government.Director, Horticulture JK, Imam Din, Joint Director, Horticulture Digvijay Gupta, Assistant Director, Horticulture, Arvind Panjotra and other senior officers of Horticulture Department were present on the occasion.
Later, Advisor also conducted visit to Sub-Division Marh where he inspected the protected cultivation of vegetables under Naturally Ventilated Poly Green House spread over an area of 2016 sq metres at Shama Chak and Shade Net measuring 3500 sq metres at Dab Karam Din. Both of these structures have been established with 50 percent assistance from department of Agriculture under CAPEX as an effort towards doubling the farmers’ income.The Advisor on the occasion, directed the officers to promote such income generating activities in other areas as well to attract the young entrepreneurs towards Hi- tech farming ventures. He also stressed to popularize the use of Solar Pumpsets and solar power generation Units.The Advisor along with other senior officers also inspected the mechanized harvesting of wheat crop with reaper cum binder at village Dumi. Further vertical cultivation of vegetables utilizing micro-irrigation (sprinkle) and summer maize cultivation under NFSM at village Bathera was also inspected by the Advisor.Chief agriculture Officer Jammu, Farooq Ahmad Bhat, Agronomist Vegetables Jammu, A S Reen, SDAO Marh, Munshi Ram Rakwal and other concerned officers also accompanied the Advisor during his visit.