To gear up the Monsoon plantation in sub- tropical areas of Jammu Division, the Department of Horticulture Samba organised an Awareness Camp under “Meri Mati Mera Desh” here at Data Talab, Purmandal.
Director Horticulture Jammu, Ram Savak chaired the camp in presence of Chief Horticulture Officer Samba, Mukesh Sharma, District Horticulture Officer Hamid Ahmed, HDOs of the District, Chairman Data Talab Swarn Singh Charak, besides large number of farmers including women & PRI members of the area participated.
While addressing a large gathering of farmers/fruit growers, Director Horticulture Jammu Ram Savak said that the motive behind organizing such camps is to promote awareness among our farming community regarding the various schemes of the department with special focus on plantation schemes.
He said that the rainy season is best suited for new plantations especially in the kandi areas and the farmers should adopt cluster approach in establishing new orchards, so that they can avail maximum benefits of the departmental schemes.
He impressed upon farmers to adopt integrated farming in their fields and avail the benefits on different components viz: Aloevera plantation, bore well, water harvesting tanks, drip irrigation, mechanization, protected cultivation, tools & implements etc. for enhancing their income manifold and also advised them to frequently interact with the field functionaries of the department regarding the new technologies as well as the problems being faced by them in the fields.
The Director Horticulture urged women farmers to establish individual units for fruit processing/ fruit drying/ spices preparation etc. for which liberal funding from the government is available through the department.
He also elaborated in detail about both the centrally and UT sponsored schemes of the department. He also laid emphasis on planting cash crops like Strawberry and exotic fruit crops like Dragon Fruit in their fields so as to get more income from the same area, thereby helping the farmers in doubling their income.
Later, the Director Horticulture Jammu launched the plantation drive by planting a sapling of Citrus plant for compact plantation in a farmers’ field at village Data Talab under “Meri Maati Mera Desh” programme. On the occasion, a Tiranga rally was also organized on the spot.HDO Purmandal carried out the proceedings of the programme.