Dir Horticulture calls for introduction of latest cultivars, promote medicinal plants

JAMMU: Director Horticulture Jammu, Gul Sayed, on Tuesday undertook a comprehensive inspection tour of the Government Mega Fruit Plant Nursery (MFPN), Chakroi, R.S. Pura, accompanied by the District Horticulture Officer, Jammu  Perminder Singh. During the visit, the Director reviewed the ongoing activities in the Tissue Culture Laboratory and the Bio-Control Laboratory, where Technical Officers Amit Saraf and Zia-ur-Rashid apprised him in detail of the scientific and technical operations being carried out in their respective laboratories. Director appreciated the preliminary efforts taken up by the officer in adopting various scientific techniques for raising fruit plants through tissue culture. During the course of the visit, the Director also attended the ongoing one-month training course on Fruit Plant Orchard/Nursery Development and Management being conducted for unemployed youth at the facility. Interacting warmly with the trainees, he apprised them of the immense potential of the training programme in enhancing their technical skills in nursery operations, enabling them to generate sustainable income and move towards self-reliance. The training programme is being headed by Divisional Training Officer, Sh. Virender Kumar. The Director further inspected various ongoing nursery operations, including budding/grafting and layering techniques, which were showcased and explained by District Horticulture Officer (In-charge, MFPN Chakroi) Jammu, Sh. Perminder Singh, and District Horticulture Officer, Sh. Abhinav Gupta. He advised officers to promote the cultivation of medicinal plants and also emphasised on introduction of latest suitable cultivars of Mango, Litchi, Guava and Citrus so that the nursery can become centre for diverse germplasm collection. Speaking on the occasion, the Director appreciated the efforts of the officers and staff in maintaining high standards of scientific rigour at the nursery and reiterated the Department's commitment to strengthening tissue culture, bio-control, and skill-development initiatives aimed at empowering the youth of the region and boosting horticultural productivity across the Jammu Division. Later, the Director visited the Government Fruit Plants Nursery, Miran Sahib, Maralian, where he was accompanied by Horticulture Development Officer Sh. Dheeraj Sharma. During the visit, he inspected various nursery activities and issued necessary directions to the officers and staff for the effective implementation of departmental programmes, maintenance of quality planting material, and further improvement of nursery infrastructure and management practices.