Srinagar, Dec 31: In a bid to enhance the production of Lemon, Orange, Walnut and Hazelnut; 30,000 fruit plants were distributed among the farmers of the Karnah, Uri, and Gurez by Department of Horticulture in the year 2021.
While the department in a bid to augment the infrastructure, a proposal for two new Centres of Excellence (CoEs) was approved by SLEC which was sent to the Government of India for sanction, said the department in its yearly achievement report.
Highlighting the achievements, the department in its yearly achievement report has said that in order to enhance the production and productivity of the farming community ‘Modified High Density Plantation Scheme and Nursery Scheme for High Density Plantation were launched’.
According to the 2021 year achievement report issued, the department in a first of its kind held a two-day Apple Festival at SKICC on the banks of the Dal Lake to promote Kashmiri produce among buyers from different states.
“Two new pesticides laboratories at Baramulla and Kulgam and one soil testing laboratory at Pulwama are being established, while 134 Vermi-Compost units and 156 Pack Houses were established in the year 2021”, reads the report.
The report also mentions that CA Storage Capacity was increased from 1.70 LMT to 2.00 LMT during the year 2021.
“03 new CA Stores approved by SLEC and forwarded to Government of India for sanction. 15 new Nurseries are being established in the private sector including 04 Walnut Nurseries and 03 Hi-Tech nurseries”, read the yearly report card.
It also mentioned that 1837 samples were analysed, and Soil Health Cards (SHC) were distributed during 2021 and 12 Lakh High Density rootstock were propagated. 211 new irrigation sources were created including Deep Bore Wells, Shallow wells etc.
Highlighting it’s training programme for the farmers it read,” 30809 farmers were trained by the Department during the year 2021 by organising 1731 small and mega awareness programmes”.
During the visit of the Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Narendra Singh Tomar, the report said that the Department facilitated the Parliamentary Consultative Committee (PCC) Meeting held at SKICC Srinagar which was attended by over a dozen Parliamentarians from across the country.