The Department of Horticulture Planning & Marketing (P&M) Kupwara today organized an awareness camp at Fruit Mandi Bumhama to disseminate information among farmers, fruit growers/traders about various initiatives and Government schemes including One District One Product (ODOP), Post harvest technology and High Density plantation. Deputy Commissioner (DC) Kupwara, Khalid Jahangir was chief guest while Director Horticulture P&M, Vishesh Mahajan and ADDC Kupwara, Altaf Ahmad Khan was also present at the occasion.
Deputy Director Horticulture P&M; Area Marketing Officer Kupwara, Officers from Horticulture, SKUAST, NAFED, besides, a large number of fruit and vegetable growers and traders attended the awareness camp. In his address, the DC said that the District Administration Kupwara has made strenuous efforts to ensure proper functioning of the Fruit Mandi Bumhama viz infrastructure building and other amenities for Fruit growers/traders. He appealed to the fruit growers and traders to take maximum benefit of the infrastructure and other facilities provided by the Government to ensure smooth marketing of the produce at one place.
Addressing the gathering, the Director Horticulture P&M appealed to the farmers to adopt different scientific techniques like post-harvest technology, high density plantation for which the Government is hand holding the farmers in terms of different incentives for increasing their income generating capacity.
He said high density plantation is available both for fresh fruit and walnut production which is being supported through One District One Product (ODOP) scheme. He also asked them to establish their Controlling Atmosphere stores which will ensure durability of the fruit and vegetables for its smooth marketing.
The Director appealed to all fruit and vegetable growers/traders to take advantage of the Mandi facilities provided by the department.Besides the DC and Director Horticulture P&M advised the traders to start trade in the mandi immediately, otherwise the cancellation process against non-functional allottees will be initiated.
On the occasion, Officers from Horticulture, SKUAST and other departments provided detailed awareness to the participants regarding various schemes and initiatives of the government for boosting the horticulture production and marketing facilities in the district.