Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 3: Minister for Agriculture, Ghulam Hassan Mir today dedicated two Mobile Plant Health Clinic (MPHC) vans to the farmers at Directorate of Agriculture, Krishi Bhawan here.
The Mobile Plant Health Clinic vans have been pressed into service immediately after inauguration in the Yellow Rust prone areas of Jammu, Samba and Kathua districts.
Minister of State for Agriculture, Nazir Ahmed Gurezi was also present on the occasion.
Mr Mir said that soon all the districts of the State would have Mobile Plant Health Clinic van facilities to provide surveillance against insects, pests and other diseases affecting the farms. He said the new initiatives of MPHC vans for different districts of the State has been taken under the innovative component of the “Macro Management of Agriculture Scheme”.
The Minister said that Government envisages providing Information Technology (IT) facility within the mobile van to upgrade its functioning and help the farming community at large. He said this facility would help the farmers to detect different diseases of the crops at early stage so that necessary steps would be taken to control these from spreading to other crops.
The Minister further stated that the Mobile Plant Health Clinic will be more effective in rendering comprehensive diagnostic & advisory services, particularly in the event of outbreak of epiphytotics such as incidence of Yellow Rust in wheat in Jammu, Kathua and Samba Districts, which can be identified in time and addressed right in the field.
Director Agriculture Jammu Ajay Khajuria assured the Minister that the department will ensure effective use of the facility as important aspect in the management of plant diseases lies not only in its correct diagnosis for which well organized plant clinics are must, but also in making suitable recommendations to the farmers on the spot.
Others present on the occasion included Joint Director Agriculture (Extension) SS Jamwal, Joint Director Agriculture (Inputs) Jammu, S Shani, Dy. Director Agriculture (Trgs), Jammu, Sudesh Koal Dy. Director Agriculture (Central), Plant Protection Officer, Chief Agriculture Officer Jammu, Samba, Kathua and other senior officers of the Agriculture Department.
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