Director urges farmers to adopt modern techniques for better yield

Fruit growers showcase 540 different fruit varieties

Kargil, October 09, 2022: Horticulture Department Kargil today organized the annual exhibition 2022-2023 under the chairmanship of Director Horticulture, UT Ladakh, Muhammad Yousuf Dar, at Shilikchey village where fruit growers showcased 540 different fruit varieties in stalls.

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On the occasion, the director said that cultivating practices in horticulture should be in line with the changing trends and demands adding that fruit growers need to be updated with better processing, packaging and marketing procedures so that they improve their economy.

Dar also said that exhibition of different varieties will be a sample for other farmers so that they can also move on the same path to improve the quality of their fruits.

The director horticulture stressed farmers to coordinate with the department in order to get benefits of the different schemes of the department. He talked about many varieties present at the exhibition like apricot, apple, sea buckthorn etc.

While talking about sea buckthorn, Dar said, its cultivation is still in wild form and they are trying to scientifically make orchards for this particular variety. He said the department is trying to make it next apricot. The director stressed on farmers to grow quality fruits and assured them all type of support from the department.

Chief Horticulture Officer, Ali Raza, Assistant Professor KVK, Dr Nasreen Fatima, BDC Sodh, Zakir Hussain, Vice President Youth Development Council, Shilikchey Muhammad Ali. 

Dr Nasreen stressed on organic, vermicompost fertilizer for healthy cultivation and to save the environment.

The CHO also stressed on farmers to use government schemes properly and get benefitted from them. He appealed farmers to coordinate with the department to get the benefits of the welfare schemes.

Earlier, farmers, heads of the village and people from the adjoining areas forwarded their demands to the Director Horticulture. He gave a patient hearing to the issues and assured all type of support from the department.

Officials informed that the exhibition was attended by 200 fruit growers. The fruit growers showcased 540 different fruit varieties in the exhibition in stalls which include sea buckthorn, mulberry, walnut kernels, almond, different varieties of apricots, apples, pear etc.

Different kinds of horticulture-related machines and tool kits were showcased during the exhibition like irrigation pumps, power tillers, solar insect light traps etc.

An expert committee from KVK and allied departments judged the exhibition and categorised the awards among the apple growers.

The director and other dignitaries also distributed prizes among progressive farmers and to those farmers who had exhibited their locally grown fruits during the annual exhibition.