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National Seeds Corporation to take over 440-kanal Zainapora Farm

ZT News Network

Srinagar, Jan 28: Horticulture Department Kashmir and the National Seed Corporation (NSC) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) by virtue of which NSC would take over the administration of the 440-kanal part of the Advanced Centre for Horticulture Development Zainapora Shopian and use it as a quarantine facility for imported walnut and apple trees.

In a new development, the NSC has been entrusted with import of walnut and apple planting material from various countries for distribution in J&K. Earlier, private entities and Horticulture Department, Kashmir, would perform this role.

“This MoU is similar to the one signed by the J&K Government with NAFED”, Ajaz Ahmed Bhat, Director Horticulture Department, told Radio Kashmir Thursday evening.

Officials at Horticulture Department told Ziraat Times that a team of the National Seed Corporation visited the Zainapora Farm and undertook a physical review of the facilities there. The visit comes after an in-principle agreement between the Horticulture Department and National Seeds Corporation (NSC) New Delhi regarding creation and development of Post-Entry Quarantine facility at Zainapora Shopian, on January 13 wherein the contours of the MoU were agreed.

The facility of Post-Entry Quarantine shall be developed by National Seeds Corporation over an area of 22 hectares (440 canals) at Shopian with funds from National Horticulture Board, Government of India, officials said.

About the Zainapora Farm:

Advanced Centre for Horticulture Development, Zainapora, formerly known as Indo -Bulgarian Project, was established during the year 1989-90 in village Zainapora, (Shopian), 63 Kms from Srinagar city towards south Kashmir at an altitude of 1600 mts ASL, at a higher elevation with less annual precipitation and extreme temperature in two seasons of the year. It is spread over an area of 130 Hectares (2600 Kanals) with three main blocks – the High-Density Apple Orchard Block (60 Hectares), the Nursery Block (40 Hectares) and the FAO Walnut Block (30 Hectares).

The facility was initially under Agriculture Production Department who raised fodder other field crops on it till 1988-89. In the year 1989-90 the land was transferred to Horticulture Department for propagation of clonal root-stock/ establishment of high density orchard in collaboration with Bulgarian government till early 90s. But due to unfavorable situation in the valley, the experts from Bulgarian government left the station half-way without achieving the required goal and, finally, it was completely sponsored by J&K State government with the nomenclature as Advanced Centre for Horticulture Development, Zainapora.

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