Director Agriculture Production & Farmers Welfare, Jammu, K. K. Sharma today termed branding and quality assurance as a prerequisite for efficient marketing of the Agri Products. He was interacting with the private Agri-preneurs in his office chamber, Krishi Bhawan, Talab Tillo.Those present on the occasion included Joint Director (Inputs), A. S. Reen, Joint Director (Farms), Rajinder Sharma, Joint Director (Apiculture & Mushroom), S. Iqbal Singh, Joint Director (Marketing), Mahesh Verma, Plant Protection Officer, Devinder Sharma, Agronomist (Vegetable Improvement Scheme), J. C. Raina, Assistant Director Law Enforcement, Tilak Raj Sharma besides private entrepreneurs Yash Pal Tora ( Bow Organics) , Prof. Harish Dogra (Agri Trader) and others.The Director Agriculture said that the purpose of the interaction is to discuss and formulate the ways and means for providing proper marketing chain to the farmers by creating marketing linkages of agri-products of UT in other parts of the country and abroad as well.
He asserted that the Department can act as a facilitator between the farmers and the big Agri-Traders/ Entrepreneurs in procurement and quality testing of agri products besides skill development of the producers.The Director also stressed upon the brand promotion, value addition and GI tagging of specialized agri produce of J&K UT like basmati, honey, saffron, kala zeera, turmeric, rajmash, anardana, ginger, hill garlic, aromatic and medicinal plants etc to make these products more credible and acceptable in national and international markets.Later, the Director along with the officers and agri-preneures/ traders visited the Departmental counter put up for the sale of farmers field produce under ‘Jammu Kheti’ Brand. The team also visited the Naturally Ventilated Poly Green Houses, Aromatic / Medicinal Plants unit, Urban Grow Bags section and Apiculture unit of the department where the Director appraised the visitors in detail regarding the various activities undertaken in these units for the welfare of the farmers. The bee garden established in the apiculture section, first of its type, remained the centre of attraction for the visitors.