Srinagar, Mar 29: Director Horticulture Kashmir Ajaz Ahmad Bhat, today paid a surprise visit to District Shopian and Pulwama to inspect various pre and post-harvest units.

He was accompanied by Deputy Director Horticulture, Chief Canning and Processing Instructor and other senior officers. 

During the visit, Director Horticulture took stock of the functioning of these units. Director Horticulture visited fruit plant nursery Ringwar Keller and took stock of various developmental works and laid on emphasis on propagation of quality planting material and introduction of new high yielding varieties of different cultivars. 

During the inspection of the nursery Chief Horticulture officer briefed about the various activities undertaken in the nursery and also the detail of transplantation of apple clonal root stock for propagation.

Director Horticulture also inspected various developmental works viz pack houses, vermi compost units, tube/bore wells etc and appreciated the establishing the Bore well in Ringwar Nursery by Executing agency Horticulture P&M.

He also took a detailed review of plantation programme in the district. Progress of developmental works viz budded/ grafted root stock was also reviewed and instructions were issued to grow the root stock as per SOP and develop the nurseries on modern lines.

Later Director inspected various zonal level offices as well as Chief Horticulture office Shopian and instructions were given to address the issues of the growers (orchardists) on top priority basis.