The expert committee members constituted for drafting Horticulture Policy for Jammu and Kashmir State today held interaction with stakeholders of Jammu including Fruit Growers, Nursery Owners, Processors, Traders, Controlled Atmosphere (CA) Store owners and senior functionaries of the department.The session was held under the chairmanship of Secretary, Horticulture, Manzoor Ahmed Lone.The stakeholders raised various issues of concern during the interaction and also gave their valuable suggestions.The committee agreed to incorporate the suggestions and concerns in the proposed policy with a view to ensure welfare of the ultimate stakeholders as well as sustaining their security and safety in times to come.Issues of significance raised, included increase of production by introduction of High Density Plants, diversification of fruit cultivation, improvement in the irrigation of orchards, processing/ value addition of fruits including other post-harvest issues.
The stakeholders from different parts of Jammu region also gave valuable inputs regarding cultivation of fruits in suitable Agro-climatic areas and pitched for zonalization of fruit crops.The members of the committee stressed on making provision for availability of quality planting material and well established marketing facilities to take the produce in the market while formulating the policy document.The interactive session was attended by Dr. Pardeep K Sharma, VC SKUAST-Jammu; Dr. R.P. Awasthi, Former VC YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry Solan; Dr. Abdul Ahad Sofi Ex- Director CITH Vijay Sardana, Head Food Security and Agribusiness UPL Group; Dr. Mushtaq Ahmed representative from SKUAST-Kashmir; Dr. J.P Sharma, Director Research, SKUAST-Jammu; Dr. V.K Wali, Head Fruit Sciences, SKUAST-Jammu; Director Horticulture Jammu Anuradha Gupta and Anil Kumar Sharma, J.L. Sharma, former Directors Horticulture.The meeting concluded with vote of thanks presented by Tarvinder Singh, Joint Director Horticulture, Jammu.