Shopian, June 28: The Department of Horticulture today organized a daylong Mega awareness cum training camp at Shadab Karewa in district Shopian.
Large number of Farmers participated and put forth problems faced by them regarding Horticulture which were addressed on the spot.
On the occasion, District Development Commissioner Shopian Dr Owais Ahmed was chief guest and Director Horticulture Kashmir, Aijaz Ahmad Bhat was the Guest of honour.
All the HDO’s of Shopian district and senior citizens were also present on the occasion. The programme was organized for Information dissemination among orchardists under Centrally Sponsored Scheme MIDH.
DDC while interacting with the fruit Growers advised them to take maximum benefit by availing incentives available under various centrally sponsored and state sector schemes presently under implementation in the division.
He impressed upon the farmers to keep close liaison with the field functionaries of the department so that they are able to get maximum benefit under different schemes. He disclosed that department is going to start skill development programme in the temperate areas with an objective to train the local unemployed youth in various propagation techniques like budding, grafting and canopy management techniques like Pruning/training of fruit trees, so that they can act as master trainers and can train other local youth in the same. He also informed that Department is going to start Toll Free Number very shortly so that the technical problems of the farmers living in the Far Flung area will be addressed/solved on telephone by the panel of technical experts of the department.
Later outstanding orchardists/ Fruit Growers were honored by the DDC Shopian and Director Horticulture by presenting them Mementoes. The participants appreciated the efforts made by the department in the conduct of such awareness camp.
On the occasion, various speakers also spoke and briefed the participants about the various activities being undertaken by the department in the district. Particularly Director Horticulture stressed all participants to avail benefits under various schemes. He also said that the department along with district administration are working together for the benefits of farmers /apple growers.
