Minister for Agriculture, Ghulam Nabi Lone Hanjura, has directed the State Agro Industries Development Corporation (SAIDC) to set up departmental stores at Civil Secretariat Srinagar and Jammu so that Agro products are made available to the employees.The Minister issued instructions in this regard while chairing the 31st and 32nd Annual General Meetings of SAIDC convened to review the functioning of the Corporation here today.Hanjura also directed the Corporation officials to set up stores at Tulsi Bagh government quarters among other suitable places where fresh vegetables and agro products like honey, packed jam, Mushk Budji rice and other agricultural items can be made available for sale.Saying that there is need to infuse new blood in the functioning of the Corporation to make it more vibrant, the Minister said innovative measures are needed to be taken by the Corporation. He also fixed March 2018 as deadline for updating all departmental accounts of the Corporation. He said that it would help review the business renewal plan of the Corporation.
Speaking in reference to the functioning of the Cold Storage Plant, Ice Factory in Delhi and Cattle Feed Plant at Bari Brahmana (Jammu), the Minister, while expressing satisfaction with their functioning, said that these plants have earned a reasonable profit for the Corporation.Underscoring the need for making fresh efforts for revitalization of the Corporation, Hanjura called on the Corporation to adopt business options on professional lines and come up to the expectations of the people. He said that the government is contemplating several initiatives to strengthen the SAIDC so that it becomes a useful marketing agency for farmers of the State, adding that the government is determined to bring transparency in its functioning at all levels.During the meeting the Audit reports of 1999-2000 and 1998-99 of the corporation were accepted.Chairman Agro Industries Development Corporation, Vice Chairman SAIDC, Principal Secretary Finance Department, Directors Agriculture Kashmir and Jammu and other senior officers of the Corporation were present in the meeting.