Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Sept 16: Minister for Horticulture, Culture Housing, Youth Services and Sports, Raman Bhalla has asked the officers of Horticulture Department to gear up their men and machinery for providing all facilities to the fruit growers of the Kashmir valley, adding that Government is committted to facilitate the fruit growers so that they could easily transport their seasoned fruit like apple, walnut, almond and pear to the terminal and satellite markets across the country.
This was stated by the Minister while interacting with the horticulture officers after listening the problems of a deputation of fruit merchant association which met at Srinagar here this evening.
Mr. Bhalla said fruit growers are faced lot of difficulties in recent flash floods and heavy rains in the State particularly in Kashmir valley. He asked the officers to pay their frequent visit to the flood hit areas of the Valley and assess the loss of fruit production and submit the same for relief. He advised the farmers to harvest the matured fruit for its packing in wooden box or card board boxes, adding that packing material shall be provided to the fruit growers wherever the demand is putforth.
Mr. 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 and plant high quality fruit plants for better production of state’s produce.
He said various centrally sponsored schemes are meant for the farmers with an aim to improve their living standard. He appealed the farmers to come forward and take advantage of these schemes.
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 being provided to the needy persons. He directed them to sensitize the farmers about the latest technologies of science so that the same could percolate to the growers in the field.
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