Advisor to Lieutenant Governor, Farooq Khan, today reviewed functioning of Department of Horticulture Planning and Marketing besides infrastructural needs of Vegetable Mandi Complex Narwal at Kissan Ghar, Fruit and Vegetable Mandi Complex Narwal.Principal Secretary Horticulture, Navin Kumar Choudhary besides senior officers of concerned department and representatives of Fruit and Vegetable Mandi Association were present in the meeting.Director Horticulture gave power point presentation on physical and financial progress of the department including achievements during 2018-19 and 2019-20 against the approved action plans.Advisor Khan highlighted the need for maximizing the reach of different schemes with time bound completion of all ongoing programmes and projects. He asked the officers to implement the schemes in letter and spirit for benefit of farmers and fruit growers.Advisor said that the UT administration is determined to give thrust to Agriculture and Horticulture sectors to boost the production and improve the socio-economic status of farmers of J&K. He asked the officers and field functionaries to work with dedication, honesty and sincerity to create awareness regarding various technological interventions and farmers welfare schemes. He said that adoption of such measures will improve the living standards of farmers by getting fair and better remunerative prices for their produce.
Advisor asked the members of the Association to register themselves at e-platform for better sale and purchase of their products and use Kissan-rath app for transportation purpose. He stressed for transparent annual audit of funds allotted for development of Mandis.The members of Fruit &Vegetable Association Narwal thanked the Advisor for his personal intervention regarding infrastructural development of the Mandi complex. They demanded additional toilet complexes, canteens, guard rooms, residential quarters, restoration of boundary wall, shops transfer, lease extension besides link road to Mandi via Balidaan Stambh and improvement in basic facilities like sanitation.Advisor assured the Association that all their grievances and demands raised would be looked into for redressal at the earliest. He asked the representatives of the Association to constitute a committee of three members who shall be authorised to negotiate and take final decision regarding resolution of their issues.Later, Advisor Khan along with other senior officers of the department visited Fruit and vegetable Mandi Narwal to take stock of its functioning. He had a detailed assessment of problems being faced by the business community dealing with fruit and vegetables.