Chetan Singh Jauramajra, officials explore collaboration opportunities to enhance crop productivity and income for farmers in Punjab

PAMPORE: Chetan Singh Jauramajra, the Horticulture Minister for the Government of Punjab, along with other state officials, visited ICAR-CITH Rangreth, Srinagar, on Friday.
The minister was accompanied by the Special Secretary of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare for the Government of Punjab Sanyam Aggarwal (IAS), along with 14 other officers and progressive farmers, during his visit to ICAR-CITH Rangreth, Srinagar.
The minister, along with his team, was received by Dr. M. K. Verma, Director of ICAR-CITH Srinagar.
Dr Verma gave a detailed presentation on the diversification prospects and potential of temperate fruit crops in the Punjab region, with a special focus on pear, plum, peach, and low-chill apple.
The horticulture minister was also briefed about the research activities being carried out at the centre for the entire temperate region of India.
Director Verma highlighted the scope and importance of various temperate fruit crops in Punjab, emphasizing their canopy management. He also suggested conducting trials on various canopy management training systems in Punjab in collaboration with ICAR-CITH Srinagar, ICAR CITH Rangreth officials told Kashmir Reader.
The Special Secretary of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare for the Government of Punjab assured full support for carrying out research activities in collaboration with ICAR-CITH, with a special focus on horticultural crops suitable for the Punjab region.
In his speech, Horticulture Minister Jouramajra highlighted the importance of collaborative research between ICAR-CITH and the Punjab Government. He emphasized the significance of canopy management, the development of new varieties, and capacity building for officials of line departments. The minister underscored the need to explore ways and means in horticulture, particularly in planting material production, that would benefit both regions and significantly increase farmers’ incomes. He stressed the importance of collaborative efforts to enhance the productivity of crops, especially those suitable for diversification in the Punjab region.
Later, the minister visited the exhibition stall to observe the technologies and varieties developed by ICAR-CITH Srinagar, he said.
Earlier this week, Horticulture Minister of Punjab led a delegation visited Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir (SKUAST-K) Shalimar, Central Sericulture Research and Training Institute (CSR&TI) in Galander Pampore, and India International Kashmir Saffron Trading Centre (IIKSTC) in Dusoo Pampore.

BILAL HABIB