Deputy Chief Whip Kewal Singh Pathania today chaired a review meeting in Shimla to review various developmental projects related to horticulture activities being undertaken in the Shahpur Assembly constituency. He said that a sub-centre of excellence i.e Progeny cum Demonstration Orchards would soon be established at Shahpur. For this purpose, a team of experts from Israel conducted a joint inspection, the report of which has been submitted to the state government.
The state government would soon take up the matter of establishing this centre with the central government. An amount of rupees five crore would be spent on this. Deputy Chief Whip directed the department to expedite the process of transferring the land of Jhullar Farm to the Horticulture Department.
He also reviewed the progress of the HP Shiva Project in Shahpur Assembly constituency and said that the vacant posts in the Horticulture Department in Shahpur would soon be filled, besides creating new posts at the PCDO in Shahpur constituency. Sh. Pathania said that the state government was giving special impetus to the development of horticulture to strengthen the rural economy.
New technologies are being introduced in this sector. Keeping in view the immense potential for the production of citrus fruits in the Shahpur constituency, innovative steps were being taken to diversify fruit production in the region. He directed the officers to make efforts to raise awareness among the people about new technologies and improved varieties of crops and fruits in the horticulture sector.
Director Horticulture and other senior officers of the concerned department were present in the meeting