KULGAM: Minister for Horticulture, Syed Basharat Bukhari, today visited Kulgam district to assess the damages caused to horticulture crop due to recent hailstorm in the area.
Member Parliament, Nazir Ahmad Laway, Legislator Abdul Majeed Padder, Director Horticulture and other officers of the Horticulture Department accompanied the Minister.
During the visit, Bukhari visited Brazloo, Kulgam where he interacted with the orchardists who apprised him about the damages to horticulture crop. The Minister also visited DH Pora and Mirhama Plantation Farm of the Horticulture Department.
The Minister said he will apprise the Chief Minister about the damages to the horticulture sector in the district so that adequate compensation can be provided to the affected orchardists.
Later, the Minister chaired a joint meeting at Chowalgam with the technical staff of the Horticulture Department and the affected horticulturalists. He said the Government has created a separate Horticulture Department in view of its significance and potential in boosting the economic growth and prosperity of the State and its people.
He exhorted upon the officers to undertake surveys and assessments about the extent of damage in recent rains and hailstorm. Besides, they were directed to issue an advisory informing the general public about the preventive measures to be adopted in order to mitigate the damages.
He further asked the officers to mobilize their men and machinery for providing the logistical intervention and technical guidance to the people.
In order to keep a check on substandard pesticides and fertilizers, the Minister said that sampling of the pesticides will be a regular feature and informed that stringent action shall be taken against those involved in marketing and selling of spurious and substandard pesticides, fungicides and fertilizers.
He said that to give a flip to the horticulture sector, the Government will soon come up with a new horticulture policy which will streamline and boost the horticulture sector in the State.
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