JAMMU: Additional Chief Secretary (ACS), Agriculture Production Department, Atal Dulloo, today chaired a meeting to review availability of planting material for the current year here at Civil Secretariat. Atal Dulloo had a detailed discussion with Directors of Horticulture from both divisions to discuss availability of planting material across climatic regions of the Union Territory. He assessed status of budding, grafting and rootstock required for various fruits like apple, cherry, apricot, almond, peach and more for the current and next year.
ACS took stock of availability of planting material in public and private sector nurseries besides discussing payment issues of private nursery owners. He conducted review for the temperate, tropical and subtropical regions of J&K. ACS reviewed the pending applications of farmers and the respective subsidies. He also resolved payment issues of private nursery owners and instructed the department to dispose of pending applications of farmers.
ACS directed the concerned to ensure expeditious import of all necessary planting material from outside the UT. He said that the planting season is ahead, therefore, necessary efforts must be made for availability of required material in time. He sought weekly reports from the officers regarding their progress and performance. The meeting was attended by Secretary in Agriculture, Shabnam Kamili, Director Horticulture Jammu, Ram Sevak and Director Horticulture Kashmir besides other officers of the department.