Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, May 8: The business of Horticulture Planning and Marketing (HP&M) has gone up from 1.82 lakh metric ton (LMT) in 1980-81 to 22.00 LMT in 2012-13 which in terms of the returns has mounted from Rs 400 crore to Rs 4200 crore during the period.
This information was given to Minister for Horticulture, Housing and Culture Raman Bhalla while chairing the 2nd meeting of the Jammu and Kashmir State Agriculture Marketing Board (JKSAM) here at Horticulture Complex Rajbagh, today. The meeting of the Board has been conducted after a gap of five years.
Minister of State for Animal and Sheep Husbandry, Horticulture, PHE and Flood Control Nazir Ahmad Gurezi was also present in the meeting.
The Board gave nod for establishment of Mega Markets at Nagrota and at Jablipora near Bijbehara for which 276 kanals and 440 kanal lands has already been identified. The Minister directed the concerned authorities to remove the bottlenecks, if any, immediately hampering acquisition of land so that the work is started as early as possible.
The meeting was informed that NABARD has provided Rs 1.50 crore for creating infrastructure for Jablipora market, out of which Rs 50.00 lakh have been incurred so far.
The Board approved constitution of a High Powered Committee under the chairmanship of Director, Horticulture Planning and Marketing which will look into various issues including issuance of licences of different functionaries in different Fruit and Vegetable Markets and others in the market area, regulation of market cess, licencing of wholesale traders etc. and submit its report to the concerned ministry for appropriate action.
Addressing the meeting, Mr. Bhalla said that the horticulture is the backbone of the State’s economy, adding that the mandate of the department is to facilitate the Fruit and Vegetable Traders. The Minister said that the Department of Horticulture Planning and Marketing has a pivotal role in marketing of the produce of farmers.
The Minister said that to facilitate the Horticulture trade, the Government has constructed 3- Terminal markets at Sopore, Parimpora and Narwal, and set up mandies at Chararisharief, Kupwara, Handwara, Baramulla, Kulgam, Pulwama, Shopian, Batingoo and Udhampur which are fully functional at present. He said that the markets at Akhnoor, Kathua, Bishnah, Rajouri and Batote are about to commission whereas at ZaznaGanderbal, Tumlihal, Doda, Poonch, Samba, Tapyal and Chadwal are in the pipeline which will help both the growers and traders in a long way.
Among others Commissioner Secretary, Agriculture Production Department, Dr. Asgar Samoon, Director, Horticulture Planning and Marketing, Atta-ur-Rehman Natnoo, Directors Horticulture, Jammu and Kashmir, Director, Research, SKUAST, members of Fruit Growers and Traders Associations and Chief Agriculture Officers attended the meeting.
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