The Department of Horticulture on Saturday organised a daylong awareness programme for progressive orchardists with an aim to equip them with modern farming techniques.A large number of farmers attended the awareness programme.During the programme Subject Matter expert Shakeel ur Rehman and In-Charge Fruit Plant Nursery Tahira un Nisa interacted with the farmers and informed them about labour different techniques of propagation under Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH).The farmers were given practical training about various techniques of propagation including budding and grafting.Later practical demonstration was also given to the farmers in the fruit nursery. A question answer session was also held at the end of the programme.The farmers appreciated the department for holding such awareness programmes and urged them to hold more such programmes in future so that they learn about modern techniques to improve the production and health of plants in their orchards.Officers impressed upon the farmers to keep close liaison with the field functionaries of the department so that they are able to get maximum benefit under different schemes. They said that the department is going to start more skill development programmes in the district with an objective to train the orchardists in various propagation techniques like budding, grafting and canopy management techniques like Pruning/training of fruit trees.