JAMMU : Additional Chief Secretary (ACS), Agriculture Production Department, Atal Dulloo, today chaired a review meeting of Horticulture Department regarding works being executed under UT Capex, Centrally Sponsored Schemes, NABARD and various other deliverables.
ACS reviewed works being executed by the Directorates of Horticulture Jammu and Kashmir in development and strengthening of new and existing nurseries respectively, support to high density plantation nurseries and assistance for establishment of walnut nurseries., establishment of soil testing labs, post harvest management centres, procurement of machinery and equipment and subsidies under schemes like PARVAZ, was also reviewed by the ACS.
While reviewing High Density Mega Fruit Nursery at Chakroi and expansion of area under cultivation of strawberry and aloe vera in Jammu region, ACS advised that promotional activities under the projects be scheduled well ahead of harvest season to ensure wide publicity.
Atal Dulloo reviewed progress on sanctioned Common Incubation Centres at Doabgarh, Achabal and Narwal. He stressed on their timely development and operationalisation.
Later, in another meeting held to review implementation of MoU with NAFED, ACS reviewed the status of actions taken on previous decisions.
ACS took strong note of delay in joint inspections to be conducted along with NAFED and called for immediate compliance in this regard. He directed the respective officers to prepare district wise schedules for the inspections.
He directed for acting hard against Private Enterprises (PEs) and taking action against the ones failing to deliver plants as intended.
ACS directed the department to prepare DPRs for establishing High Tech Nurseries in both Jammu and Kashmir regions.
The meetings were attended by Director Horticulture Jammu, Ram Sevak, Director Agriculture Jammu, K K Sharma among other senior officers. Their counterparts from Kashmir attended the meeting virtually.
Meanwhile, ACS Atal Dulloo visited Centre of Excellence for Fruits, Udheywalla and took stock of progress on works undertaken there.
He was accompanied by Vice Chancellor SKUAST Jammu, Professor JP Sharma and Director Horticulture, Jammu, Ram Sevak.
ACS directed the officials to work hard for betterment of farmers and assured full support from his department so that farmers of J&K are benefitted.
Professor JP Sharma called for inviting expert committee to overcome shortcomings, if any.
Later, ACS visited the mother blocks of different fruit crops and enquired about the varieties being grown there.
Project Incharge, Dr Vikas Tandon, gave a detailed account of objectives and progress of the project.
He also visited Biocontrol Laboratory where he was informed by Dr Vishal Gupta and Dr Pradeep Rai that they are producing and supplying biocontrol agents like Trichoderma, Pseudomonas and bio fertilisers such as rhizobium and PSB to farmers of Jammu region through development departments.
Those present at the occasion included Registrar, Dr SK Gupta, Registrar; Director Education, Dr Rakesh Nanda Director, Education; Comptroller, Madan Lal; Executive Engineer, Iqbal Singh; AEE, K K Raina; ADR, Dr Shahid and Head Fruit Science, Dr Parshant Bakshi.
Pawan Suri and Sonu Kumar from Jain Irrigation Systems Limited were also present the on the occasion.