Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, July 17: Minister for Housing and Horticulture, Raman Bhalla has called upon the officers to double their efforts to tap optimal potential of horticulture in the Anantnag district. He said South Kashmir is hub of horticulture activities and still there is lot of scope for expansion and officers must make serious efforts to identify new areas and bring them in horticulture ambit.
The Minister said this while interacting with the horticulture officers at Anantnag, where he had gone to assess the overall scenario of horticulture activities and infrastructure of fruit markets.
Maintaining that Jammu and Kashmir, especially the Kashmir Valley has been blessed with rich environment for horticulture cultivation, he stressed the need for launching a massive campaign to educate the farmers/fruit growers about the Government schemes so that more and more people come forward and involve them in this sector. He said horticulture is the mainstay of State’s economy wherein over 70 per cent population directly or indirectly associated and earning their livelihood. He said Government was fully committed to promote this sector to exploit its optimal potential from the new areas to improve the State’s economy further.
Regarding strengthening of marketing activities, the Minister said that the Government has formulated a well-knit programme for upgradation of existing infrastructure in the important fruit mandis across the State. He said Government is aware about the problems of fruit growers and traders and several measures have been initiated to address them in phased manner. He said the network of mandis will be further strengthened and some new projects are under active consideration of the Government. He said that bottlenecks for construction of Jablipora Fruit Mandi have been cleared and shortly the work would start on this important project.
In order to provide quality plant material to the farmers, the Minister directed the officers to streamline the activities of nurseries in the district. He stressed the need for producing quality plant material and providing to the farmers on genuine rates. He also called for providing timely technical know-how to the growers so that they get good results, adding that the department must maintain close liaison with the growers and address their problems on ground.
While inspecting the pace of development of Fruit and Vegetable Mandi Batengoo, Anantnag, the Minister was informed that the work is at the final stage and only some petty works needs to be carried out. It was given to understand that on completion, the Mandi will cater to the marketing needs of thousands of growers/traders who are residing around Bijbehara, Anantnag, Kulgam, Khanabal, and other adjoining localities. The Mandi is situated just at the road side and quite suitable for the traders and growers.
Earlier, during the review meeting of officers, the Minister was informed that in district Anantnag, 19000 hectares of land is under fresh fruit cultivation and 16000 hectares is under dry fruit cultivation. The department has proposed to expand 81 hectares of new land under Technology Mission.
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