What could be termed as a novel move towards promotion of lucrative horticulture sector, the Department of Horticulture Poonch is encouraging youth to develop fruit orchids by providing them free high yielding fruit trees under the J&K Government’s Mission Youth imitative.Terming it as a major initiative of the department, Chief Horticulture Officer Poonch, S. Satvir Singh, said that the move would prove a game changer in realizing the huge employment potential of the Horticulture sector in the border district.“There is an overwhelming response from the youth, farmers & general public at large. The fruit plants are being provided under the Mission youth Program which primarily aims at socio-economic empowerment of the youth,” the Chief Horticulture Officer said.
Pertinently, the fruit plants are being provided to the beneficiaries under the special youth engagement and outreach campaign conducted under Mission Youth in the border district last week. The department arranged the high quality fruit plants feasible for lower & upper areas of the district in just 3 days” the CHO said.The high quality fruit plants like Apple, Peach, Plum & Apricot are being provided to youth of temperate/ upper reaches of Mandi, Loran , Surankote, Balakot & Buffliaz zones, while high quality fruit plants of Italian lime, Kagzi lime & Guava are being supplied to youth of lower regions with Subtropical to intermediate climate.The beneficiaries are also being provided a pamphlet containing Technical guidance. The fruit plants are being distributed through BLOs & youth clubs of different Panchayats of the district.Acknowledging the good work of the horticulture department, the unique scheme is being widely welcomed by the general public, farmers & fruit growers.