VC DDC Bandipora inaugurates Training programme for Orchardists

BANDIPORA, March 09: The Horticulture department on Thursday organised a day-long awareness cum training programme on ‘Scientific pruning of High density Apple plants’ at KVK Patushai, here. 

The programme was held under the ATMA scheme in collaboration with KVK Bandipora and SKUAST- Kashmir.

Vice-Chairperson, District Development Council (DDC) Bandipora, Kounsar Shafeeq inaugurated the programme.

A large number of progressive orchardists from across the district actively participated in the programme.

DDC Vice-Chairperson during her inaugural speech stressed upon orchardists to take full advantage of the schemes available with the department and to adopt fully the scientific recommendation for harnessing quality production in the Apple sector.

She urged the farmers to adopt modern scientific techniques in farming to improve their production. She said availability of expert staff at the department of horticulture and KVK is a blessing and orchardists should get benefitted from them.

Earlier, Chief Horticulture Officer Bandipora, Farooq Ahmad Tantary highlighted the importance of conducting such skill oriented programmes and informed that scientific training and pruning is prerequisite for obtaining quality apple production.

Programme coordinator Dr. Tariq Sultan and HDO Horticulture Zone Bandipora and Aloosa Dr. Mehraj Ud Din Sheikh gave practical demonstration of the activity for carrying out ‘Training and Pruning of High Density Apple trees on scientific lines’.

He asked the orchardists to adhere to the recommendation of the Department of Horticulture and SKUAST- Kashmir to ensure maximum production of ‘A’ grade apples for better profitability and to compete at national and international standards.

During the programme a set of pruning secateurs was also given to each orchardist by DDC Vice-Chairperson.