Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, May 20: The Integrated Watershed Management Programme, J&K is going to promote summer zone Apple plantation in the sanctioned project areas under Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana, Phase-II.
In this regard, CEO, IWMP J&K Dr. Bharat Bhushan along with senior officials of IWMP visited Samba district.
Dr. K.C Sharma, Senior Surgeon Specialist of Udhampur who has been among the frontrunners in promotion of the plantation of summer zone apple accompanied CEO, IWMP.
The summer zone apple also known as Hariman-99 can grow in almost all types of soil, is pest-resistant & can be raised in sub-tropical and tropical zones which experience temperature upto 46o C.
Dr. K.C Sharma appraised that around 2000 plants have been planted & all the trees are fruit bearing now. He said that the plants has been planted in almost all districts of Jammu, Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, HP and other States like Kerala also. The plant gives crop after 13 months of its plantation and a single tree gives 1-1.5 Quintals yield and is harvested in May June when there is no fresh apple available in the market.
Dr. Bharat Bhushan, CEO, IWMP further exhorted the officials to promote its plantation in coming plantation season so that the farmers income can be increased by this cash crop which is also the best source of iron, minerals & vitamins and helps to fight malnutrition and anemia.
V.K Sehgal, founder Chairman, Tourism Promotion Council, Ashok Kumar, Financial Advisor/CAO, Sunil Kumar, Project Manager, IWMP Samba, Abdul Rashid Dar, Statistical Officer and Dr Mithas Ahmad, GIS Expert of IWMP were also present on the occasion.
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