Union Joint Secretary MIDH Rajbir Singh Panwar visits Centre of Excellence

Srinagar : Union Joint Secretary Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) and Managing Director National Horticulture Board, Rajbir Singh Panwar arrived here on a two-day visit to the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir to review the implementation of MIDH Scheme.He was received by Director General Horticulture and Mission Director MIDH, Ajaz Ahmad Bhat. Joint Secretary accompanied by the Director General Horticulture and other officers of the department visited the Centre of Excellence (CoE) at Zawoora, Srinagar.

On the occasion, DG Horticulture, briefed Joint Secretary about the objective of establishment CoE.Pertinently, Centre of Excellence is being established under the centrally sponsored scheme MIDH at an estimated cost of 924 lakhs. “The Centre of Excellence (CoE) serves as a demonstration center for Micro-irrigation, Hi-Tech Green Houses, Tissue Culture Labs and Weather Forecasting Station as well as a source of high-quality planting material to the orchardists of the valley”, DG Horticulture said.Joint Secretary reviewed the progress made under the different components and advised to complete the project during the current year. He also directed to make the CoE as a self-sustaining model that shall serve as a hub for catering the need of orchardists in respect of quality plant material.Meanwhile, DG Horticulture pleaded for establishment of more such “Centre of Excellence” in Jammu & Kashmir.