Minister for Agriculture Ghulam Nabi Lone Hanjura has decided to rejuvenate the Jammu and Kashmir State Agro Industries Development Corporation (JKSAIDC) by modernizing its Honey and Walnut Processing Units. He said for this purpose Rs 13.5 crore have been sanctioned by the Government of India’s Agriculture Production Export Development Agency (APEDA).This was stated by the Minister while interacting with the officers of JKSAIDC during his visit to the Corporation’s processing units at Food Park Khonmoh today.The Minister said Rs 2 crore have also been sanctioned for establishing Food Processing Unit and work on the project will be started soon.
During his visit, the Minister inspected various sections including Moisture Reduction Unit, Quality Control and Packing Room, Processing Section, Pulses Grading and Packing Section and took appraisal of the activities of these sections.The Minister also enquired about various products of JKSAIDC including Snowkist Jam, Kashmir Kesar Kahwah, Apricot Jam, Behi Murabba, Strawberry Jam, Mixed Fruit Jam, Fig Fruit Jam and Blackberry Jam and directed the concerned to improve the production quality and packaging.Director Finance, JKSAIDC, Mr. Rakesh Khajuria briefed the Minister about the activities of the Corporation. He informed that there is no facility of Testing Lab for saffron in-house.Mr. Hanjura directed the Corporation to come up with a proposal for the setting up an in-house saffron testing lab.
Later, the Minister visited SIDCO Complex, Khonmoh and took stock of the functioning there.Ex-MLA Mr. G. M. Bhawan and Management of the Unit briefed about their activities.The Minister went round various sections including sorting, reeling, re-reeling, twisting, weaving and packing and asked the management to improve the production.Earlier, the Minister inaugurated One-Day Krimkash Mela cum Awareness Camp at Gallander Pampore.MLA Pampore Mir Zahoor Ahmad, Director Sericulture, Director SKAUST, senior officers of Sericulture, Central Sericulture and Research Institute (CSRI), prominent citizens of the area and good number of Kirmkash were present on the occasion.Addressing the gathering, the Minister said that sericulture is the heritage industry in the State and it was known as backbone of our economy in last few decades. He said it is unfortunate that the farmers are not taking interest in this sector when the Government has launched various welfare schemes for the uplift of the cocoon-rearers. He appealed the farmers to take advantage of these schemes.
The Minister said that the Government is fully aware about the problems of the farmers adding that efforts are afoot for minimizing their grievances. He said two Hi-tech Rearing Centres are to be established at Srinagar and Jammu in the next year to curb monopoly. Mr. Hanjura also said that new Crop Insurance Scheme will be launched in the State from next year.MLA Mir Zahoor also spoke on the occasion and highlighted the activities of the Government. He appealed the farmers to take advantage of the welfare schemes launched by the Government. He called for better marketing of the sericulture and saffron products.Later, Mr. Hanjura and Mir Zahoor inspected various sections of Central Sericulture Research and Training Institute, Pampore and got appraisal about the functioning of the Institute.