Horticulture Department holds awareness camp, plantation drive at Bhalwal
Blazing Tales News Service
JAMMU, JULY 28: The Department of Horticulture Jammu on Tuesday organised an awareness camp-cum-plantation drive at Bhalwal to educate farmers about various horticulture development programmes and promote environmental conservation through plantation.
More than 300 farmers, orchardists, Panchayat representatives and members of the local community participated in the programme.
Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) Jammu North Sham Lal Sharma, who was the chief guest, highlighted the importance of horticulture in strengthening the rural economy and enhancing farmers’ income. He urged farmers to take full advantage of the welfare schemes being implemented by the Department of Horticulture and adopt modern horticulture practices to improve productivity.
The MLA also emphasised the need to protect the environment through large-scale plantation drives and active public participation.
Speaking on the occasion, Chief Horticulture Officer Jammu Rakesh Kotwal appealed to farmers to avail themselves of the benefits under the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) and the Jammu and Kashmir Competitiveness Improvement Project (JKCIP).
He informed the participants that these schemes provide financial assistance for the establishment of orchards, protected cultivation, irrigation facilities, farm mechanisation, post-harvest infrastructure, quality planting material and other horticulture-related activities aimed at increasing productivity and improving farmers’ income.
The awareness programme also provided farmers with an opportunity to interact with horticulture officials and learn about government initiatives designed to promote sustainable horticulture and strengthen the sector in the region.
