Director Horticulture Jammu, Ram Savak today convened a meeting of Chief Horticulture Officers, Chief Canning Instructor and Managers cum Chemists of Jammu Division through virtual mode to review the developmental activities being carried out under UT CAPEX, CSS, Agriculture Infrastructure Fund, NHB and PMFME schemes.
During the course of meeting a threadbare discussion was held at various agenda points and the officers appraised the chair about the status of various works, expenditure incurred, progress made in the implementation of various developmental schemes as well as production of quality planting material in the Departmental Nurseries.
In respect of the area expansion scheme, the director exhorted officers to enhance the pace of planting of new orchards during the rainy season, the progress of which is very slow and also asked them to identify the sites for spring season plantation in temperate areas.
The Director instructed the officers to ensure better implementation of all the departmental schemes especially custom hiring centres, pack house, farm mechanization, establishment of processing units, etc. for the ultimate benefit of the fruit growers as well as better and full utilization of funds in time.
He asked them to motivate private entrepreneurs for establishment of fruit processing/ fruit drying/ spice preparation units as well as private nurseries with the assistance of the department.
He also stressed upon the formation of Farmers Producers Organization (FPO) so that the farmers can get good returns after proper value addition of their produce.Further, he impressed upon them to motivate farmers to take the benefits of the NHB Schemes and Agriculture Infrastructure Fund.
AIF aims at providing a financing facility through interest subvention and credit guarantee support on loans for creation of post harvest management infrastructure and community farming assets, he informed.