Government is making determined efforts for making Jammu and Kashmir Horticulture Produce Marketing & Processing Corporation (JKHPMC) vibrant and commercially successful.Minister for Horticulture, Syed Basharat Ahmad Bukhari stated this during a meeting convened to review the functioning of JKHPMC at Regional Office, Narwal here today.Minister of State for Education and Horticulture, Priya Sethi was also present on the occassion. Basharat Bukhari sought a detailed status report regarding functioning of the corporation and asked the concerned officers to adopt innovative approach for expanding business activities and look for new manufacturing products.The Minister called for appointing more technical staff and providing necessary training to the existing staff and improving service conditions of the field staff so that they could serve the people in a more professional manner and achieve optimal results on the ground.Basharat Bukhari emphasized on the need for adopting new technologies for efficient pre and post harvest management of apple, walnut and other horticulture produce of the sate to revive the overall functioning of the Corporation and turning it into a profitable organization.
He directed for improving the quality of concentration of juices being manufactured to meet international standard.Minister asked the Corporation functionaries to furnish a comprehensive proposal for the restoration of defunct units. He also emphasized for the need of promoting the Corporation products at national and international level.He said that Jammu and Kashmir is one of the major fruit producing states in the country and synergised efforts are required on the part of all stake holders to take HPMC to new heights.During the meeting, Minister of State for Education and Horticulture, Priya Sethi directed the concerned officers to take concerted efforts to tap the horticulture potential by introducing latest technological interventions and optimal utilization of funds. She further stressed on taking measures for better marketing exercises to make corporation more profitable.The meeting was attended by Vice Chairman, JKHPMC, Ghulam Mohammad Mir, Secretary, Horticulture Manzoor Ahmad Lone, Managing Director, JKHPMC, Dr Kabir Dar and other senior functionaries of JKHPMC and concerned department.