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| Horticulture bulwark of state’s economy: Azad | | Vast potential for fruit, tourism answer to unemployment question’ | |
Jammu, Dec 1
Describing horticulture bulwark of state’s economy, Chief Minister Mr. Ghulam Nabi Azad said on Friday that vast potential for cultivation of both temperate and sub-tropical fruits provides great potential for orchard raising avenues and added that fruit processing activities have equal ground to nurture and expand in Jammu and Kashmir.
Addressing a mammoth public meeting after launching 4-month long special orchard raising drive by planting a fruit sapling at Khalleni about 200 km from here in foothills of Bhadarwah, Chief Minister said that answer to unemployment problem lies to a greater extent in boosting horticulture, agriculture and allied sectors.
Mr. Azad said that scientists and experts since ages recognized Jammu and Kashmir as state of fruits and flowers and viewed its prosperity in the development of horticulture and tourism. “We have to go for it in a big way and harness the potential God has provided state with”, he added.
Chief Minister said Jammu and Kashmir is a unique state bestowed by nature with temperate, sub-tropical and arid zones. “We have ample feasibility and potential of producing world famous apple varieties, cherries, pears, peaches, apricots, plums, strawberries, grapes, almonds, walnuts, hazelnuts, pomegranate etc. in the temperate zone of Kashmir and parts of Jammu while as sub-tropical area of Jammu is ideal for producing citrus fruits, jamun, litchi, grapes, pomegranates, peaches, mango, ber, papaya, guava etc. and Kargil and areas of Leh district are known for producing quality apricots”. Proper harnessing of this great gift of God would enable us to “make the economy dance on our tunes”, he said.
He said the drive for raising massive fruit plantation which he has launched today should continue for entire plantation season and similar drives be launched in spring and rainy seasons to achieve the massive orchard raising, wherever feasible.
Chief Minister directed horticulture department to also launch mass awareness campaign in the rural areas making people aware of benefits of raising fruit plants and added that horticulture technology mission under implementation in the state alongwith many other schemes need proper introduction amongst the farmers and ensuring benefits of the schemes reach to all.
Under special fruit plantation drive, 3.84 lakh planting material of fresh and dry fruits are being planted in Doda district over an area of 1950 hectares during this plantation season. The farmers will be provided 75 per cent subsidy on fruit plants besides technical know-how and other incentives.
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