JAMMU: Additional Chief Secretary (ACS), Agriculture Production Department, Atal Dulloo, today chaired a review meeting of Horticulture Department regarding works being executed under UT Capex, Centrally Sponsored Schemes, NABARD and various other deliverables.
ACS reviewed works being executed by the Directorates of Horticulture Jammu and Kashmir in the development and strengthening of new and existing nurseries respectively, support to high-density plantation nurseries and assistance for the establishment of walnut nurseries, the establishment of soil testing labs, post-harvest management centres, procurement of machinery and equipment and subsidies under schemes like PARVAZ, was also reviewed by the ACS.
While reviewing the High-Density Mega Fruit Nursery at Chakroi and the expansion of the area under cultivation of strawberry and aloe vera in the Jammu region, ACS advised that promotional activities under the projects be scheduled well ahead of the harvest season to ensure wide publicity.
Atal Dulloo reviewed progress on sanctioned Common Incubation Centres at Doabgarh, Achabal, and Narwal. He stressed on their timely development and operationalization.
Later, in another meeting held to review the implementation of the MoU with NAFED, ACS reviewed the status of actions taken on previous decisions.
ACS took strong note of the delay in joint inspections to be conducted along with NAFED and called for immediate compliance in this regard. He directed the respective officers to prepare district-wise schedules for the inspections.
He directed for acting hard against Private Enterprises (PEs) and taking action against the ones failing to deliver plants as intended.
ACS directed the department to prepare DPRs for establishing High Tech Nurseries in both Jammu and Kashmir regions. He asked the officers from NAFED to set up their office in the Union Territory as per the memorandum.
The meetings were attended by Director Horticulture Jammu, Ram Sevak, Director Agriculture Jammu, K K Sharma among other senior officers. Their counterparts from Kashmir attended the meeting virtually.
