Agriculture Commissioner Suhas Diwase instructed the officials on the preparation of Kharif season during a meeting held at Vasantrao Naik State Agriculture extension management training institute on May 15.
After assessing the preparations of Kharif season in Nagpur Division Diwase directed officials to focus on encouraging horticulture crops and also to boost the export oriented horticulture in east Vidarbha during this Kharif season. He has suggested that 10-15 % of the areas where paddy was cultivated should be diverted to horticulture and vegetable crops.
He further added that efforts should be taken to cover at least 15% of additional area under drip irrigation and also 5-6 hector of area of cotton crop should also be brought under drip irrigation.
He also spoke on farm training schools that are being conducted on farms. Agriculture assistant should try to create awareness among the farmers about horticulture, vegetable crops, short duration crop varieties, bamboo cultivation and sericulture.
Director horticulture P N Pokale, Director (extension and training) V N Ghawte, Joint Director Ravindra Bhosle and Director, Soil Conservation and Watershed area management, Dr Kailas Mone were prominently present in a meeting.
