Minister for Housing, Horticulture and Culture, Raman Bhalla, today asked the officers of Horticulture department to create massive awareness among the fruit and vegetable growers about the benefits of various schemes under Horticulture sector.The Minister was addressing a large gathering of fruit and vegetable growers after inaugurating Fruit Exhibition-cum -awareness camp at Sanjog Palace in Reasi district, here today.MLA, Baldev Raj Sharma, District Development Commissioner Dr. Shahid Iqbal Choudhary, Director Horticulture, Anil Kumar Sharma, Chief Horticulture Officer, Sushil Kumar Chatta and other dignitaries were present on the occasion.
About 35 stalls of allied sectors were setup for demonstrating quality of fruits and their species production, fisheries, agricultural crops, Animals & Sheep Husbandry potential, sericulture and promotion of other allied sectors by the Government functionaries in coordination with progressive farmers.Nearly, 8000 growers from all corners of the district participated in the camp and were imparted latest technical knowhow during the day long technical session.Bhalla asked the officers to explore new markets with all infrastructural facilities to promote state’s horticulture produce across the country. He called upon the fruit and vegetables growers to avail the benefit of schemes like Horticulture Mission for North East and Himalayan States, Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana, National Mission on Micro Irrigation and Agriculture Technology Management Agency.The Minister said Government was endeavoring a lot to encourage farmers for plantation of high-quality fruit trees to fetch optimum returns. He asked to make all the departmental nurseries fully functional.Mr. Bhalla said that the Government has proposed to set up a Walnut Board in the State to give boost to the Walnut production in a big way. He said Jammu and Kashmir State enjoys monopoly on this fruit.
The Minister directed the officers to provide hi-yielding varieties of plants to the farmers and said that there will be no compromise on quality of the material. He said that attention is required to be focused both on the production of quality horticulture produce and its proper export to the terminal and satellite markets ensuring substantial returns to the fruit growers.Mr. Bhalla called for close coordination between Horticulture and Sher-e-Kashmir Agriculture University of Sciences and Technology (SKAUST-K) so that maximum farmers are benefited.The Minister also discussed the strategy for transportation of state’s production to various destinations across the country.Bhalla asked the officers to issue notices to those who sublet the allotted shops in mandis to others for establishment of dhabas, tea stalls etc. He asked for enquiry into the matter and cancel such allotments and allot the same for fruit and vegetable markets. He asked the officers to enhance High Mast Lights, Laboratory blocks, weighing bridge, Guest House, DG Set, macadamized roads besides drainage facilities in every fruit and vegetable markets.
Maintaining that Jammu pision has great potential of horticulture produce, Bhalla advised the farmers to switchover to cash crops like mangoes, Amla, Alo-vera, guava, lemon galgal, kimb, quince, olive and strawberry instead of traditional crops, adding that these crops have great demand in the market. He said Government also provides attractive incentives for promotion of horticulture and people should come in a big way to avail these benefits and to help Government in enhancing the GDP rate of the State.Bhalla said close coordination among Horticulture officers and farmers is necessary for promotion of the sector as large section of farmers earn their livelihood from this sector. He further announced that efforts are on to construct a cold storage plant and fruit processing units in every district of the State with object to give boost to this sector on large scale.
Bhalla also distributed cheques among first, second and third best exhibit of the fruit show of the district.Earlier, the Director Horticulture said that the department is committed to ensure prosperity of the farming community by strict implementation of various Horticulture schemes.Sarpanchs and progressive farmers also spoke on the occasion expressed their experience in yielding fruit crops of different species.Later, the Minister along with MLA inspected the ongoing construction works of Apni Mandi, to be developed on 8 kanal of proposed land at an estimated cost of Rs. 13.50 lakh. He asked the executing agency to speed up the project so that the fruit and vegetable marketers could avail the benefit of the space.Bhalla asked the DDC Reasi to identify state land for development of one more satellite mandi in the district.