Chetan Singh Jauramajra kick starts district-wise meetings to elevate horticulture department to new heights

Gathers ground-level information from Deputy Directors of districts Amritsar, Gurdaspur, Pathankot, Tarn Taran, Ferozepur, Fazilka and Kapurthala under first phase

Instructs officials to promptly chalk-out new projects for farmers welfare and submit reports

*Chandigarh, November 28:*

Punjab Horticulture Minister S. Chetan Singh Jauramajra has kick started series of district-wise meetings aimed at bringing the Punjab at the forefront in the horticulture sector.

In the initial phase, the Cabinet Minister convened the meeting at his official residence, engaging with Deputy Directors from district Amritsar, Gurdaspur, Pathankot, Tarn Taran, Ferozepur, Fazilka and Kapurthala to gather firsthand insights into the department’s performance, progress, upgradation and ground-level challenges. While he sought suggestions from officials regarding new scheme possibilities for the department’s development, he asked them to promptly address the issues hindering the implementation of existing schemes.

S. Jauramajra directed the district officials to chalk out new projects benefiting farmers in the state and submit a report in this regard to his office at the earliest. The Cabinet Minister assessed the government nurseries’ seedlings, expenses and revenues, instructing officials to strategize the implementation of central aid schemes to maximize the impact for crop diversification. He said, the creation of horticulture development center/incubation center and sub-center can contribute significantly to the progress of the state, hence they should prepare schemes focused on this sector.

The Cabinet Minister directed the officials to tie up with agro-allied departments in preparing projects concerning marketing and processing.

Addressing the shortage of staff in district offices, the Horticulture Minister informed that officials had already been directed to promptly initiate recruitment for various posts in the Horticulture Department. He mentioned that the recruitment process for approximately 350 posts, including Horticulture Development Officers, Beldars/Maalis and Watchmen will be started soon.

Notably, district Jalandhar, SBS Nagar, Hoshiarpur, Ropar meeting will be held on November 29, while district SAS Nagar, Mansa, Fatehgarh Sahib, Patiala, Bathinda and Sri Muktsar Sahib meeting will be convened on December 5. The meeting of district Sangrur, Barnala, Malerkotla, Ludhiana, Moga and Faridkot has been scheduled on December 6.