Speaker, Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly Kavinder Gupta, Minister for Horticulture, Syed Basharat Ahmed Bukhari and Minister of State for Horticulture, Priya Sethi inaugurated Gate Plaza constructed at a cost of Rs. 56 lakh at Fruit and Vegetable Market, Narwal.They also laid foundation stone for Drainage System in the Mandi to be constructed at an estimated cost of Rs. 6 crore.Secretary Horticulture, M H Malik, Director, Horticulture Bhawani Rakwal, Director Horticulture (Planning and Marketing) Hafizullah Shah and members of trading community were present on the occasion.While addressing the gathering, the Speaker said, “This Mandi will be equipped with latest technological interventions and basic .facilities to emerge as an outstanding fruit and vegetable market across the country”. He also highlighted various initiatives launched by the government for giving a fillip to the horticulture sector in the state.
Speaking on the occasion, Basharat Bukhari said that the digitization of mandis would be done in collaboration with J&K Bank to keep the growers and traders updated about the latest market trends and rates in vegetable and fruit mandis across the country. He further said the government is conducting horticulture census in the State to get comprehensive data about the number of fruit and non-fruit bearing trees for the formulation of farmer friendly schemes.The Minister also responded to the demands put forth by President, Jammu Fruit Association Rajesh Gupta and President, JammuVegetable Association, Ramesh Parihar pertaining to expansion of Mandi, remodeling of shops, macadamization of internal roads, maintenance of green belt park, establishment of cold storage and transport yard, upgradation of power infrastructure and water supply and construction of canteen in the Mandi. He assured them of full support from the government in making state of the art fruit and vegetable mandi in Narwal.In her address Minister of State for Horticulture, Priya Sethi said the government is taking every step possible for the development and upgradation of mandis on modern lines. She said that various initiatives are underway to optimally tap the potential of horticulture sector in the state and provide better marketing facilities to the farmers.