Poonch, May 27: CSIR Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine, Jammu in collaboration with Department of Agriculture, Poonch Saturday organised a one day training and planting material distribution programme under CSIR Floriculture Mission at Dak Bungalow, Poonch under the patronage of Dr Zabeer Ahmed, Director CSIR IIIM Jammu.
In the event 95 participating farmer beneficiaries from different areas of the district were imparted training on commercial cultivation and post-harvest technologies for Cut and Loose flower cultivars. The farmers were also provided the quality planting material of Gladiolus corms and hybrid Marigold seed.
Rakesh Sharma Chief Agriculture Officer Poonch while welcoming the chief guest Sh. Malikzada Sheraz Ul Haq (JKAS) Addl. District Development Commissioner Poonch, Dr Shahid Rasool, Nodal Scientist CSIR Floriculture Mission, Officers of the Department of Agriculture and participating farmers gave a brief introduction of the programme and apprised farmers about the remunerative benefits and entrepreneurial opportunities in commercial cultivation of floricultural crops. He commended the initiative of CSIR-IIIM for extension of activities of the Mission in Poonch district to benefit the farmers. He added that the district offers a huge potential and scope for diversification to floriculture sector and emphasized of collaborative efforts with CSIR IIIM to leverage the benefit through commercial production of floriculture crops. He also highlighted the importance of Marigold which secretes a substance called Terethienyl in the soil which acts as natural trap to control root knot nematodes, bacteria and fungi besides it checks white flies, slugs and snails and also repels mosquitoes and beetles due to its fragrance. He also emphasized for its cultivation round the year as being used on the occasions of cultural and religious festivals besides its aesthetic and ornamental value.
While interacting with the farmers, Dr Shahid Rasool briefed about the CSIR Floriculture Mission being implemented in the UT of J&K and transformational change it has brought in commercial floriculture sector. He informed that the Mission is one of the flagship initiatives launched by CSIR for empowering the farmers of the country through commercial cultivation and marketing of region specific floral cultivars.
Malikzada Sheraz Ul Haq (JKAS), Chief guest of the event complimented the initiative of CSIR-IIIM for reaching out to the farmers of the district Poonch and informed that adoption of the floriculture crops like Marigold and Gladiolus can add to the economic returns of the farmers. He emphasized on the judicious utilization of the available resources for achieving maximum profitability.
