JAMMU, Jul 22: On the occasion of National Mango Day, Dr. Satwant Singh Rissam, Additional Co-Convenor of the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH), Jammu Chapter, called for the conservation of mango orchards, describing them as an invaluable part of Jammu’s living heritage.
Dr. Rissam said mango trees are “living archives” that preserve local history, traditional grafting practices, seasonal knowledge and biodiversity. He highlighted the cultural, nutritional and economic significance of mangoes while expressing concern over the growing threats posed by urbanisation, fragmentation of orchards and the gradual loss of traditional cultivation techniques.
He proposed a series of community-driven initiatives to safeguard the region’s heritage orchards. These include conducting a comprehensive heritage orchard survey in collaboration with panchayats and the Horticulture Department to document existing orchards, establishing nursery partnerships to revive traditional rootstocks and grafting material, and organising training workshops for farmers and youth on sustainable orchard management and traditional grafting methods.
Dr. Rissam also called upon municipal and district authorities to incorporate heritage orchards into land-use planning and provide incentives for conservation-friendly farming practices.
Inviting wider public participation, he urged cultural organisations, horticulturists, educational institutions and local residents to join INTACH Jammu in its conservation efforts through orchard walks, documentation drives and awareness programmes aimed at preserving the region’s rich horticultural and cultural heritage.