SKUAST’s 10 days Skill Development Prog concluded in Ang

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ANANTNAG:  A 10 Days Skill Development Training Programme entitled “Training and Pruning in Apple Orchards of District Anantnag” for master prunerswas successfully completed.

The programme was organized by Krishi Vigyan Kendra Anantnag in collaboration with department of Horticulture Anantnag, w. e. f. 09/11/2020 to 19/11/2020. The training programmewas attended by the Scientists of the Kendra, Horticulture Development Officers, Horticulture technicians of district Anantnag and about 241 master pruners identified across the district by department of horticulture.

At the outset of the event Hilal Ahmad Bhat, Horticulture Development officer Anantnag, welcomed the participants and appraised them for sparing their valuable time for this important event.

Dr Manzoor Ahmad Ganai Senior Scientist and Head KVK, highlighted the role of Krishi Vigyan Kendra in upliftment of farming community and presented main activities carried out during the last few years by the Kendra for economic prosperity of farming community of this district. Dr Bilal Ahmad Pandit (Scientist Horticulture) was the technical expert of the programme.

Dr Pandit had threadbare discussed the aims and objectives of training and pruning in apple orchards and future prospectus in improving the quality standards of produce for attaining greater dividends from existing apple industry. He discussed pruning a key practice/operation in modifying the trend of alternate bearing in existing traditional apple orchards, which can help the orchardists to harvest regular produce from their orchards. It has important role to curb the fungal infection if done on scientific guidelinesviz-a-viz he emphasized on air drainage and light penetration in the canopy of apple orchards.

A pruner must know the behavior of bearing of apple varieties that he is pruning. The variety under pruning is a spur or non-spur or a tip bearer and should carry out the operation accordingly. He must understand difference between a shoot, a spur and the specificity of a particular area. Furthermore, hands on training was given on the spots at all the 10 horticulture zones spread across the district in which more than 241 master pruners have participated in the programme.

The participants raised different queries and questions regarding training, pruning, fruit-set, fruit drop, alternate bearing etc in traditional as well as high density apple orchards. The question session was well taken by the scientist horticulture and given on spot deliberations to address the problems being faced by the orchardists. Dr Shazia, (Scientist Soil Science) during the training programme focused on the need of soil sampling and its importance in enhancing the quality produce from the established as well as new orchards.

The soil scientist further has given detailed information on the scientific procedure of soil sample collection, appropriate time of sampling and right time and method of fertilizer application. In addition to training on soil health, recommendations on how to augment soil for increasing fertility and productivity were also given. DrIshtiyaq Ahmad Mir, Scientist Animal Sciences and Dr Shabir Ahmad, Scientist Agri-Econ co-ordinated Dr Pandit for successful conduct of training programme.