District Development Commissioner, Dr. Sagar D. Doifode, today inaugurated Kissan Mandi, here at newly constructed Rural Haat here at Pranoo Panchayat to facilitate Direct Marketing in the district.The Mandi has been established by the Department of Horticulture Planning and Marketing (J&K) in Co-Ordination with district Agriculture Production Department.It will act as collection Centre where from the marketable surplus will be dispatched to major markets of Jammu, Udhampur and other market places.Speaking on the occasion, the DDC appreciated the RDD for constructing Rural Haat at Pranoo, which will prove to be an employment generating asset in the area. He said it is the best example of the convergence scheme of Govt i.e CD panchayat and MGNREGA.He also informed that the rural Haat will be dedicated to the concerned panchayat, which will regularise its functioning on daily basis by charging minimum dues.During the event, DDC informed that the Project of Kissan Mandi will prove a boon for farmers of the area and its surrounding villages. This will benefit all categories of farmers to sell their produce directly to the buyers and the ultimate consumers, yielding employment avenues for the stakeholders and increase their earnings.
The Mandi will provide fresh produce to the local consumers, and for being on the road side location, the buyers from adjoining Bhaderwah and Doda towns can also easily reach here and buy the fresh fruits and vegetables which are locally produced in this area, DDC added.Meanwhile, the DDC also distributed registration certificates to the sellers and informed that every interested local farmer and from other parts of the district can register himself in the concerned department and can avail the facility easily.Area Marketing Officer Doda–Kishtwar, Ashwani Kumar, acquainted the farmers/stake holders with the importance and benefits of this project. He expressed gratitude to the DDC Doda, Dr Sagar D Doifode in providing a platform for Direct Marketing at newly constructed Rural haat at Pranoo.Later, Horticulture (P&M) department distributed masks and sanitizers among the farmers present there to sell their produce.Also present on the occasion were ACD, Prem Singh Chib; CAO Shahid Iqbal; AGMO, Sunil Singh; CHO, Inderjit Singh; Marketing Inspector, Jagdish Raj and SDAO Pranoo and other officers and officials of Agriculture and allied Departments.