Jammu & Kashmir to develop Mahore as a modern walnut zone

REASI: The Mahore block of Reasi district, located in the hills bordering South Kashmir, will be developed into a modern ' walnut production zone' in the Jammu region.

"The Mahore block of Reasi district will be developed as a modern walnut production zone in Jammu region," Director horticulture Jammu, A K Sharma said while addressing fruit growers and locals at Shajroo in Mahore belt today.

This would be for high-yielding varieties, Sharma added.

He exhorted farmers to set up vermicompost units, vermibeds, polygreen houses, use of biopesticide, biofertilisers and adoption of organic farming so that their horticulture produce gets certified and third party certification is taken up for better returns.

Sharma also gave a lowdown on modern techniques for producing grafted walnut plants in low-cost green house to raise walnut production substantially by reducing gestation period of plants.

He added that the Horticulture Department will provide necessary training to growers for canopy management of fruit trees and converting inferior varieties to increase quality.

The department will also facilitate securing licences for sale of quality pesticides in the area demanded by growers of Shajroo.

Farmers brought to Sharma's attention of the need to set up a fruit mandi in their area so that their produce is marketed at a reasonable price.

Sharma instructed officials to address fruit growers' grievances immediately.