Ladakh

Press Information Bureau (PIB), Jaipur as part of a week-long press tour to UT Ladakh on Monday visited Kargil district to study various developmental works and implementation of centrally sponsored and UT schemes in various villages.

Deputy Director PIB, Jaipur, Pawan Singh Faujdar, AE&CO DIPR Leh, Stanzin Wangmo, a group of 13 media persons and PIB official were part of the tour.

The team studied the developmental activities in the district post-formation of Union Territory, implementation of centrally sponsored schemes and UT schemes at various villages of Kargil.

They got first-hand information about the achievements of schemes like National Health Mission, Jal Jeevan Mission, National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM), Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan etc.

The team of journalists associated with various print and electronic media houses experienced the best practices followed by the UT Administration in the field of agriculture which has got recognition and the implementation of several other schemes.

During the visit to the newly constructed 300-bedded district hospital and Oxygen Plant at Kurbathang, the PIB team met the concerned officials and were apprised about the ongoing development works.

Incharge Nodal Officer, Dr Muhammad Abbas talked about various projects and their cost under mechanical, civil, and electrical departments and presented details of project cost.

The PIB officials and media persons also visited Ice Hockey Rink near airport, Astroturf Football Ground, Gallon Water Reservoir at Chay Chaythang. They also visited various villages of Kargil district.

They also visited drip irrigation Saliskote and high-density apple orchard Saliskote of Horticulture Department. Chief Horticulture Officer Ali Raza briefed them about a number of activities carried out in the apple orchard.

During the visit to Panchayat Ghar Sankoo, the Self Help Group (SHG) Sankoo showed the manufacturing of sanitary pads and its distribution at low cost. PIB official said this is completely a positive developmental activity and will help in women empowerment. The concerned VLW Jinnah detailed about sanitary pad manufacturing process.

The Deputy Director PIB appreciated the pace of ongoing developmental activities in Kargil district and also in the whole UT Ladakh.

Singh also said that the funds provided by Union Government for various schemes were effectively utilized by concerned departments of district Kargil. He thanked all the stakeholders of the tour and appreciated their support.

Horticulture Department organizes annual exhibition at Shilikchey, Director urges farmers to adopt modern techniques for better yield Fruit growers showcase 540 different fruit varieties.

Horticulture Department Kargil today organized the annual exhibition 2022-2023 under the chairmanship of Director Horticulture, UT Ladakh, Muhammad Yousuf Dar, at Shilikchey village where fruit growers showcased 540 different fruit varieties in stalls.

On the occasion, the director said that cultivating practices in horticulture should be in line with the changing trends and demands adding that fruit growers need to be updated with better processing, packaging and marketing procedures so that they improve their economy.

Dar also said that exhibition of different varieties will be a sample for other farmers so that they can also move on the same path to improve the quality of their fruits.

The director horticulture stressed farmers to coordinate with the department in order to get benefits of the different schemes of the department. He talked about many varieties present at the exhibition like apricot, apple, sea buckthorn etc.

While talking about sea buckthorn, Dar said, its cultivation is still in wild form and they are trying to scientifically make orchards for this particular variety. He said the department is trying to make it next apricot. The director stressed on farmers to grow quality fruits and assured them all type of support from the department.

Chief Horticulture Officer, Ali Raza, Assistant Professor KVK, Dr Nasreen Fatima, BDC Sodh, Zakir Hussain, Vice President Youth Development Council, Shilikchey Muhammad Ali. Dr Nasreen stressed on organic, vermicompost fertilizer for healthy cultivation and to save the environment.

The CHO also stressed on farmers to use government schemes properly and get benefitted from them. He appealed farmers to coordinate with the department to get the benefits of the welfare schemes.

Earlier, farmers, heads of the village and people from the adjoining areas forwarded their demands to the Director Horticulture. He gave a patient hearing to the issues and assured all type of support from the department.

Officials informed that the exhibition was attended by 200 fruit growers. The fruit growers showcased 540 different fruit varieties in the exhibition in stalls which include sea buckthorn, mulberry, walnut kernels, almond, different varieties of apricots, apples, pear etc.

Different kinds of horticulture-related machines and tool kits were showcased during the exhibition like irrigation pumps, power tillers, solar insect light traps etc.

An expert committee from KVK and allied departments judged the exhibition and categorised the awards among the apple growers.

The director and other dignitaries also distributed prizes among progressive farmers and to those farmers who had exhibited their locally grown fruits during the annual exhibition.