With an objective to create awareness among the farming community for plantation of fruit crops, the Department of Horticulture Jammu today conducted a mega farmers’ awareness camp at Padmi, a far flung area of block Mathwar.The mega camp was chaired by Director Horticulture Jammu, Ram Savak. More than 100 farmers including women participated in the camp in presence of the Sarpanch Gita Devi and Panches.While addressing the gathering of men and women farmers, the Director said that the objective behind organizing camps was to promote awareness among the farming community regarding the different schemes of the department. He urged farmers to adopt integrated farming and avail the benefits of different components viz: Bore Well, water harvesting tanks, Drip irrigation, Custom Hiring Centres, vermicompost units, protected cultivation, tools & implements etc. for uplift of their socio- economic status.
He appealed to the PRI and field functionaries to work in tandem to double the farmers’ income with special focus on area expansion, establishment of solar dryers, processing units and especially Nursery Development Scheme.Further, he asked them to form Self Help Groups (SHGs), associated with the Horticulture department. “The department will help you in setting up of Micro Food Processing units under the PMFME scheme, a landmark initiative of Atma Nirbhar Bharat Abhiyan for the value addition of fruit products which will not only provide employment opportunities, but also become self reliant and can play an important role in enhancing the family income” the director said.Earlier, the Chief Horticulture Officer Jammu, S. Sarbjeet Singh welcomed the Director Horticulture Jammu and briefed him about the ongoing works. He advised the farmers to adopt a cluster approach for the area being a Kandi belt. “Go for compact plantations consisting of at least 4 beneficiaries with an area of minimum 200 kanal for which an irrigation source like community bore well will be created free of cost” he informed.
He also urged farmers to establish Custom Hiring Centres / Farm Machinery Banks wherein the department was providing 40% to 80% subsidy which will ultimately generate employment opportunities for the youth.Sub Divisional Magistrate Bhalwal, Uttam Chand advised the farmers to frequently interact with the field functionaries of the department to know about the new technologies.Later, the Director Horticulture distributed fruit plants among the participants in presence of Chief Horticulture Officer Jammu, SDM Bhalwal, HDOs, Sarpanches and panches of the area.Horticulture Development Officer, Bhalwal, Sandeep Sharma carried out the proceedings of the programme and finally presented the vote of thanks.