Afghan officials visit Jammu and Kashmir to learn horticulture techniques

A 15-member team of officials of the Afghanistan government is here to learn the latest horticulture techniques.

The officials are participating in a two-week international training programme on advanced cultivation techniques of temperate horticultural crops being organised by the Central Institute of Temperate Horticulture (CITH), Indian Council of Agricultural Research at Rangreth, near here.

Inaugurating the programme today, state minister for horticulture and floriculture Sham Lal Sharma said that this is an honour for the country and Jammu and Kashmir specifically to hold such prestigious training programmes for the foreign nationals.

Recalling age-old ties between India and Afghanistan, he said the two countries have helped each other on many fronts. He said that the new era of mutual understanding with Afghanistan has begun and India is extending all possible assistance in the re-building of Afghanistan.

Sharma said that agro-climatic conditions of J-K and some parts of Afghanistan are almost identical and the Valley can take benefits for crop cultivation from that country. He stressed the need for developing a joint mechanism for boosting to the horticulture activities in the Valley with the active participation of Afghanistan.