ACS reviews material availability in Horticulture sector ahead of planting season

Ahead of planting season, ACS reviews material availability in Horticulture sector

JAMMU, February 20: Additional Chief Secretary (ACS), Agriculture Production Department, Atal Dulloo today chaired a meeting to review availability of planting material for the current year here at Civil Secretariat.

Atal Dulloo chaired the meeting with Directors of Horticulture from both divisions to discuss the availability of planting material across climatic regions of the Union Territory. The meeting involved assessing budding, grafting, and rootstock required for various fruits like apple, cherry, apricot, almond, peach and more for the current and next year.

Pertinently, the ACS took stock of the availability of planting material in public and private sector nurseries, and payment issues of private nursery owners were also discussed. The review was conducted for the temperate, tropical, and subtropical regions of the union territory.

The ACS reviewed the pending applications of farmers and the respective subsidies. He directed the department to meticulously plan ahead of time to ensure the success of the sector. He also resolved payment issues of private nursery owners and instructed the department to cover up pending applications of farmers.

The plantation of materials involves both high-density and regular plants, and the ACS directed that all necessary imports of planting material from outside the UT be done expeditiously. The ACS said that the planting season is ahead, and therefore necessary efforts must be made for availability of required material. He sought weekly reports from the officers to monitor progress.

The meeting was attended by Secretary in Agriculture, Shabnam Kamili, Director Horticulture Jammu, Ram Savak and Director Horticulture Kashmir besides other officers of the department.