The Minister for Agriculture Production Department Javid Ahmad Dar today said that a total of 15,51,863 fruit plants were imported by the empanelled agencies to Jammu and Kashmir during last two years.
The Minister said this while replying to a question raised by Legislator Shabir Ahmad Kullay in the Legislative Assembly today.
He said that the majority of imports comprise apple varieties such as gala, red delicious, and their improved strains, besides apple plants, limited quantities of walnut plants, and cherry apple root-stock have also been imported.
The Minister said that the Leaf Minor pest has shown a surge in past two to three years due to recent climatic changes, besides there has been a notable resurgence and increased severity of aphid infestation in various parts of Kashmir valley.
He informed that the Department of Horticulture, in collaboration with SKUAST, Kashmir, undertakes regular field surveillance, pest monitoring, and Integrated Pest Management (IPM) intervention to effectively control and contain such incidences.
Javid Dar said that, besides, regular awareness and capacity-building programmes are also being conducted to sustain such community-based interventions.
He said that pests like leaf minor have a potential for a rapid horizontal spread and warrants integrated pest management approach with strategic incorporation of insecticide and bio control agents, including cultural practices with community participation.
Minister said that the community based IPM approach in the hot spots strategy is in place, including blanket cover in contiguous areas. Advisories in this regard are being provided by the Department of Horticulture in collaboration with SKUAST-K.
The Minister said that the incidence of pest outbreaks, such as leaf minor, necessitates coordinated interventions but large scale blanket spraying of insecticides through drones is not recommended by the research institutions due to environmental concerns and issues like fragmented land holdings, harm to non-target organisms, non-availability of ultra-low-volume formulation for the said pests. Horticulture Departments intend to follow advisories issued by SKUAS-K CITH and ICAR in the matter
Javid Dar said that the Department of Horticulture is taking concerted steps to strengthen the local nursery sector and promote the production of quality indigenous planting material under the Holistic Agriculture Development Programme (HADP—Project 21) and the Jammu & Kashmir Competitiveness Improvement Project (JKCIP). The financial/subsidy support is being provided for the establishment of Mother Orchards, Rootstock Banks, and Plant Propagation Units across the districts to boost local plant nursery growers
He further informed that the Department of Horticulture has fixed district-wise targets for the promotion and supply of high-density planting material under various schemes, including the Holistic Agriculture Development Programme (HADP), Revised Modified High-Density Plantation Scheme (RMHDPS), and the Jammu & Kashmir Competitiveness Improvement Project (JKCIP). An area of 5500 Ha has been proposed to cover under High Density plantation in JKUT in 10 years, subject to availability of resources.