Jammu August 27:(KNS) A Plantation drive was today launched by the Agriculture department here at Bhalwal under National adaption Fund for climate change (NAFCC) Project.

A massive Plantation campaign was taken up wherein 2000 saplings of mango and citrus plants are being planted in 11 panchayats of Bhalwal zone under NAFCC project.

The plantation drive was kick started by planting of Citrus plant by Joint Director Agriculture Extension, B. K. Chandan in presence of senior officers, farmers and PRI members at village Ranjan of Showa Panchayat.

Pertinent to mention here that, NAFCC Project was launched in the year 2016-2017 to cover 25 villages under 11 panchayats of Block Bhalwal of Jammu Division with the aim to lessen the adverse affects of Climate Change on farming.

Speaking on the occasion, Chandan advised the farmers to plant fruit, fodder and medicinal plants in their uncultivated, waste lands and boundaries to mitigate the climate changes. He further said that these plants will help in soil & water conservation, checking soil erosion besides serving as their additional source of their income.

Chief Agriculture Officer Jammu, F. A. Bhat; SMS Regional Level Jammu, J. C. Raina; Programme Officer, Jammu, Sanjay Dhar; SDAO Marh, Ashwani Jojra and SMS (SDL) Marh Vijay Johar also interacted with the field functionaries and the farmers.

AEO Bhawal Dr. Vandhana Kotwal, Dalip Singh, Anoop Singh, Vijay Koul, Anuj Anand Agriculture Extension Assistants and Sarpanch Showa Panchayat, Naseem Fatima also participated in the plantation drive programme.(KNS)