Committed to reach out to farming community in far-flung areas: Dir Horticulture

Srinagar, Oct 16: Director Horticulture Kashmir, Ghulam Rasool Mir undertook a two-day extensive tour of far-flung areas of district Baramulla and Kupwara on Saturday and Sunday.
During the tour, he was accompanied by respective Chief Horticulture Officers and other field functionaries of the department.
On the first day of the tour, the director visited Uri sub-division of district Baramulla. He visited various areas of the sub-division and took first-hand appraisal of horticulture sector of the area.
Later, he visited the Fruit Plant Nursery, Salamabad and participated in an awareness camp organized by the Department. Besides orchardists, the awareness camp was attended by BDC Chairperson, Parenpeelan, DDC member Boniyar and various PRI members.
The main purpose of the awareness camp was to aware farmers about the different departmental schemes in vogue.
The director thoroughly interacted with the orchardists and PRI members and gave a patient hearing to their problems and demands. He assured them all possible assistance under various welfare schemes of the department.
On the demand of the locals, he directed the Chief Horticulture Officer, Baramulla to explore the possibility of cultivation of grafted walnut, olive, kiwi, and stone fruits in the area.
On Sunday, the second day of the tour, Director visited Karen tehsil, one of the remotest areas of the district Kupwara. After the visit, he participated in an awareness camp organized the Department of Horticulture. The camp was attended by a good number of orchardists and local PRI representatives.
During the interaction, various demands were put forth by the locals before the Director. Reacting to their demands, he directed the Horticulture Department of district Kupwara to explore every possibility of cultivation of pear and cherry in the area and provide high quality pear and cherry plants to the farmers.
Speaking on the occasion, Director Horticulture assured that the Department is committed to reach out to farming community particularly the far-flung areas of the valley and provide them necessary assistance under various UT and Centrally sponsored schemes.