Minister for Agriculture, Ghulam Nabi Lone Hanjura today underscored the need for making fresh efforts for renewal of State Agro Industries Development Corporation (SAIDC).Chairing the 65th meeting of board of directors of SAIDC at SKICC here, the Agriculture Minister said that there is need to infuse new initiatives in the functioning of SAIDC to make it more vibrant and commercial.The Minister asked the concerned to take innovative initiatives for making the corporation profitable. He directed the officials for adapting better marketing of newly introduced products which in turn will increase the income of farming community also.During the board meeting it was decided that SAIDC would prepare a business process “re-engineering plan” to put the corporation on path of profit making. The board members expressed the hope that the plan would help in making the corporation profitable.It was also decided that three refrigerated vans would be purchased by the SAIDC during the year 2017-18. The vans would help in carrying fruits and vegetables to other states without any wastage to farmers.The Agriculture Minister directed the concerned for creation of post production agriculture infrastructure division in the corporation.
During the meeting, the Minister was informed that after implementation of new marketing policy, cattle feed plant Baribrahmna Jammu has received orders for more than 85000 quintal of feed during the current year. He also informed that Rs 4 crore have been allocated to SAIDC for restoration of flood damaged infrastructureDuring the meeting, the board of directors gave approval to make the sales centers of SAIDC at Katra, Sopore, Civil secretariat Jammu/Srinagar functional on franchise model. The Minister was apprised that the corporation is facing tremendous problems due to the dearth of staff as most of its employees have attained the age of superannuation. The Minister assured that the matter would be resolved soon.Vice Chairman SAIDC Rashid Mehmood, Principal Secretary Agriculture production Sandeep Kumar Nayak, Director Agriculture Kashmir Altaf Ajaz Andrabi, Director Agriculture Jammu H K Razdhan, MD SAIDC Rakesh Khajuria and other senior officers of the agriculture and its allied departments attended the board of directors meeting.