Orchard plantation fast becoming a favorite among Jammu and Kashmir farmers.Byline: ANISrinagar, June 15 (ANI): In a bid to harness more profits from agriculture, farmers in Kathua district Kathua district is one of 14 administrative districts that comprise the state of Jammu and Kashmir in India. It is surrounded by Jammu to the northwest, the Doda and Udhampur districts to the north, the state of Himachal Pradesh to the east, Punjab to the south, and Pakistan to the of Jammu and Kashmir Jammu and Kashmir: see Kashmir. Jammu and Kashmir State (pop., 2001: 10,143,700), northern India. With an area of 39,146 sq mi (101,387 sq km), it occupies the southern portion of the Kashmir region of the northwestern Indian subcontinent and is have taken to orchard plantation. Earlier, farmers grew traditional crops like wheat, pulses and lentils, and they earned little profit on their produce. Now, they have started planting orchards of fruits like Litchi litchi (lē`chē), Chinese tree (Litchi chinensis) of the family Sapindaceae (soapberry family), having a small, aromatic, pulpy fruit in a thin, rough shell. , pears and orange. The farmers are confident to get a good yield since soil in the region is fertile and the weather conducive for orchard plantation. "Earlier, we used to cultivate wheat, pulses and other traditional crops but the return was not good. Since we have proper irrigation irrigation, in agriculture, artificial watering of the land. Although used chiefly in regions with annual rainfall of less than 20 in. (51 cm), it is also used in wetter areas to grow certain crops, e.g., rice. facilities here so we thought of orchard farming. I have planted orchards of litchi and orange respectively. Now we are fetching fetch·ing adj. Very attractive; charming: a fetching new hairstyle. fetch  ing·ly adv. good returns for our produce," said Satish Singh Damwal, an orchard
owner.
Since majority of local population is dependent on horticulture, the state government is providing various facilities and financial incentives to farmers. The government has devised a specialized programme like, Agriculture Export Zones and Technology Mission, to boost the plantation of low-volume-high-cost varieties of fruits in different regions of the state. The programme is aimed at providing necessary training to farmers regarding land preparation, grafting and budding, pest and disease control, besides providing various financial incentives. "Farmers want to involve in horticulture, they want to know about various government schemes, particularly about technology mission programme of the government which provides lot of facilities to farmers. Besides providing guidance regarding plantation, the government will provide an incentive of 100 thousand rupees to the farmers who will construct a water tank of 300 cubic centimeters cu·bic centimeter n. Abbr. cc A unit of volume equal to one thousandth (10-3) of a liter or to one milliliter. ," said J L Raina, Chief Horticulture Officer, Kathua. The horticultural sector forms the backbone of the Jammu and Kashmir's economy, which is known for producing a wide variety of fruits and flowers. The sector provides employment to approximately 2.5 million people. (ANI) Copyright 2009 Asian News International The Asian News International (ANI) agency provides multimedia news to China and 50 bureaus in India. It covers virtually all of South Asia since its foundation and presently claims, on its official website, to be the leading South Asia-wide news agency. (ANI) - All Rights Reserved. Provided by Syndigate.info an Albawaba.com company |
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