Director Horticulture Jammu, Ram Savak today started the several civil works at Fruit Plant Nursery, Chakroi, R.S Pura for the promotion of High Density Horticulture.The civil works includes Chain Link Fencing of the whole nursery spread over an area of 805 kanal, electrification and installation of poles, roads & building and tilling of land for its complete development.The development of high Density nursery, the first of its kind in Jammu Province, has been sanctioned by the Government of Jammu & Kashmir UT with the efforts of Principal Secretary Horticulture, Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Navin Kumar Choudhary for the development of Horticulture in Jammu Province and Rs 12 crore has been earmarked for its development on scientific lines during the current financial year.In order to develop the nursery on modern lines with latest technologies, the department has initiated the process for establishment of Hi-Tech Green House, Insect proof House, Shade Net House, Screen House etc. and thje same will be established in current year. Besides, Hi-tech machinery viz: Tractors, Power sprayers, Weeders, Power tillers, Cultivators, and other tool / implements are also being procured.
On completion of this project, the department intends to produce around 5-10 lakh quality sub-tropical fruit plants per annum for promotion of high density fruit plantation which will ultimately cater to the demand of the farmers of Jammu province.For production of fruit plants, the department has already produced more than one lakh seedlings of mango and citrus and progress is going on.The Major thrust of this nursery will be on the production of different varieties of Mango, Guava, Citrus and Litchi fruit plants. Demonstration orchards of Mango, Kinnow, Daisy, Lime, Dragon fruit, Taiwan pink guava, Litchi and other fruit plants will also be developed in the next 2-3 months and preparation of the same is under progress.The quality fruit plants for development of mother blocks and demonstration orchards of different cultivars of sub-tropical fruit plants has been arranged from prestigious Agriculture and Horticulture institutes of the country viz: Punjab Agriculture University Ludhiana, Department of Horticulture Punjab, Centre of Excellence Hoshiarpur, Central Institute of Subtropical Horticulture, Lucknow etc.