Srinagar, Aug 05: Under the banner of recently launched ‘Meri Maati Mera Desh’ campaign, the Horticulture Department Kashmir has started a series of activities for the farmers across the valley.
Subject Matter Specialist, Directorate of Horticulture Kashmir, Mohd Amin Bhat said the department has started many programs and also highlights economic viable schemes to both educated and uneducated youth who are unemployed.
“We will be organizing all the activities including the routine programs under the banner of ‘Meri Maati Mera Desh’ campaign and we are further accelerating the activities,” he said.
Bhat said two days ago the department of horticulture organized a method demonstration program on “Summer Pruning in HD Apple.”
“During the program, experts demonstrated modern pruning techniques that prove fruitful. They were informed that summer pruning reduces the barren and unproductive area and facilitates light penetration for excellent fruit quality and colour development,” he said.
On the other side one of the schemes of the department which is being highlighted is High Density Plantation Scheme for the development of high-density apple orchards in the valley.
“In high-density plantations one kanal of land can generate a minimum income of one lakh. Now youth are taking the benefit of the scheme and scripting success,” he said.
The high-density plantation is a new way of planting the maximum possible number of plants per unit area of land to get maximum crop yield and profit per unit.
The Subject Matter Specialist said the department also highlights the Minimal Processing Units scheme under which youth have started their units in many areas of Kashmir like Pulwama, Anantnag and Budgam.
“Under this scheme, youth get 13 lakh subsidy out of the 25 lakh project and this scheme would help in employment generation and youth will become job providers,” he said.
Another scheme is high-density nursery under the Holistic Agriculture Development Plan which is integrated with High Density Plantation. Under this scheme apple fruit plantation of nurseries is done through private entrepreneurs as a regular scheme under Capex Budget.
He said that the scheme is aimed to develop plants of high-density apple varieties locally which will help the local farmers.
“Currently, if we get high-density plants from outside, these need to be quarantined for some time. But once we develop it locally, farmers don’t need to go through that exhaustive process. It is aimed at the development of high-density apple nurseries in the valley,” he said.
The Subject Matter Specialist said it encourages nursery growers by providing them with genuine rootstock, available with the department at subsidized rates or providing them incentive for import of rootstock.
He said under high-density nursery the horticulture department has targeted to cover 5005 hectares of land which require 1.5 crore plants.
“We are highlighting those schemes which are economy generating, are economically viable for the employed youth and generating employment,” he said.
J&K is blessed with a diverse climate suitable for cultivation of a number of fruit crops. Horticulture is an age-old enterprise but commercial horticulture has been of recent origin.
During his recent address of Mann ki Baat, Prime Minister, Narendra Modi announced the launch of the ‘Meri Maati Mera Desh’ campaign, a heartfelt initiative to honour martyred braveheart men and women, coinciding with the ongoing Amrit Mahotsav celebrations.
