Deputy Commissioner Jammu, Rakesh Minhas conducted a tour of the Block Bhalwal in Akhnoor area to review ongoing horticulture development activities and interact with farmers benefiting from departmental initiatives.
The Deputy Commissioner was accompanied by the Chief Horticulture Officer, R. K. Kotwal; District Level Subject Matter Specialist (DLSMS) Rakesh Kumar Bhagat; HDO Block Bhalwal Ravinder Kumar and HDO Akhnoor Sandeep Sharma.
The Deputy Commissioner inspected several orchards and horticulture units in the area, where he interacted with beneficiaries and assessed the progress of dragon fruit cultivation being promoted by the department. He inspected dragon fruit orchard of beneficiary Shamsher Singh at Purkhoo and appreciated the farmer for switching to high-value fruit crops.
Later, he visited the dragon fruit orchard of beneficiary Vijay Kumar, where he reviewed the cultivation practices and encouraged farmers to diversify towards innovative horticulture crops. The Deputy Commissioner also inspected the Government Fruit Plant Nursery, Garhi Mishriwala, where he reviewed the availability and quality of planting material being produced for distribution among farmers.
The tour concluded with a visit to the dragon fruit orchard of Dr. Gafoor, where the Deputy Commissioner interacted with the grower and highlighted the importance of modern horticulture practices for enhancing farmers’ income.
The officers accompanying the Deputy Commissioner briefed him about the progress of horticulture development programmes in the area and the increasing interest of farmers in cultivating dragon fruit - a high-value crop.