Early Times Report SAMBA, Sept 11: Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) Samba, SKUAST-Jammu, in association with the Department of Floriculture, Samba, organised a comprehensive training programme on Floriculture aimed at sensitising and equipping farmers with modern technologies, scientific production practices, pest management strategies, digital tools and market-oriented approaches for profitable flower cultivation. The programme was inaugurated and presided over by Prof. (Dr.) Sanjay Khajuria, Chief Scientist Agroforestry & Head, KVK Samba, while Sh. Sunil Singh, Deputy Director Floriculture, Jammu, graced the occasion as the Special Guest. In his inaugural address, Prof. Sanjay Khajuria highlighted the immense potential of floriculture as an emerging avenue for income generation, employment creation and diversification of farming systems in the Jammu region. He delivered a detailed expert lecture on "Promotion of Floriculture-Based Agroforestry in the Jammu Region", wherein he presented a comprehensive plan for integrating suitable flowering plants with agroforestry systems. He emphasised that floriculture-based agroforestry can provide farmers with additional and regular sources of income while contributing to biodiversity conservation, beautification, environmental sustainability and climate-resilient agriculture. Prof. Khajuria further encouraged the participating farmers to adopt market-oriented and integrated farming models and urged them to take maximum advantage of various government support programmes, particularly the Holistic Agriculture Development Plan (HADP) and Jammu & Kashmir Climate Investment Programme (JKCIP), for establishing and strengthening floriculture enterprises. Dr. Neerja Sharma, Chief Scientist Horticulture, delivered an informative lecture on scientific cultivation of marigold, covering suitable varieties, nursery raising, planting techniques, nutrient management, irrigation, harvesting and post-harvest handling. |