JAMMU: Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Jammu SKUAST-J under the aegis of Directorate of Extension in collaboration with Indian Farmers Fertilizers Cooperative Ltd (IFFCO), Jammu organized an farmers’ awareness program cum Kissan Ghoshti on tree plantation and in realizing their increasing benefits and exhaustive role to supplement the needs created by the modern lifestyle.
The programme was attended by over 150 farmers, farm women, panchs, sarpancs and NGO representatives from different blocks of Jammu district. Vice Chancellor SKUAST-Jammu, Dr. K.S. Risam was the Chief Guest, Swatenter Sharma, State Marketing Manager, IFFCO Jammu was guest of honour and Dr. M.M.S. Zama, Dean, FVSc. & AH was special invitee.
The one day program was marked by distributing 1000 saplings of fruit and medicinal plants like Gauva, Jamun, Ber, Sukh Chain, Harad, Behra, Anola to farmers for increasing the green cover. The participating farmers were also provided organic liquid fertilizer and other farm inputs. At the outset, Dr. Rakesh Sharma, Sr. Scientist & Incharge KVK Jammu welcomed the guests and highlighted the role & importance of trees in furnishing essentials and additional necessities of human existence.
Dr. Risam spoke at length about physical, biological, social & aesthetic aspects of planting trees in enhancing quality of human and animal life. He further emphasized and appealed to the participants for participating in the Swatch Bharat initiatives being observed all over the country with full fervour. Dr. Narinder Raina, Div of Agro forestry spoke about various flagship programs of Government of India.
Earlier, a plantation drive was kick started by planting saplings by Dr. Risam and Swatenter in KVK garden. The program also included expert lectures by KVK scientists, Dr. Rakesh Sharma, Dr. Punit Choudhary, Dr Sheetal Badyal, Dr Prem Kumar, Dr. Lalit Mohan Gupta and Vivek Verma Field Officer IFFCO Jammu. A farmer Scientist interaction / Kisan Ghosthi was also organized to address the farmers concerns. Later, the farmers watched a film show and also visited crop cafeteria at KVK farm. The program was conducted by Dr. Punit Choudhary and assisted by Er Ashish Katoch, Satbir Singh, Poonam Abrol and Raju Gupta.