Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Sept 2: Minister for Horticulture, Abdul Rehman Veeri today chaired a high level joint meeting of representatives of various fruit-growers and transport associations to fine tune the arrangements for the smooth conduct of fruit trans-shipment from the Valley to the terminal markets.
Underlying the importance of fruit industry in the economy of the State, the Horticulture Minister directed the concerned departments to take every measure for facilitating smooth transhipment of fruit from the Valley to the markets outside the State.
“Besides deploying adequate trucks for the purpose, the railway facility should also be utilized in this regard”, he said. Veeri took the brief of each step taken by the concerned departments and stressed on facilitating the export of fruit in every respect to avoid any inconvenience to the fruit-growers and the traders associated with this industry.
Commissioner Secretary, Agriculture Production and Commissioner Secretary Transport briefed the Minister on the measures initiated and action taken to ensure smooth dispatch of fruit from the Valley.
While appreciating the concern of fruit growers for smooth flow of fruit laden trucks from different parts of the Valley to outside markets, the Horticulture Minister assured them full support from the Government. But, at the same time, he expressed his confidence that keeping in view all round economical miseries caused by last year’s flood and turmoil, the fruit growers should ensure to export best quality of apple by its grading and packaging for not to cause any damage to vibrant fruit industry for which peak season has started from now onwards.
The Minister said that Government would take all necessary steps to provide transport to the fruit-growers and help them to export maximum of their produce during the next three months.
The meeting was attended by the Commissioner Secretary Agricultural Production Department, Mohammad Ashraf Bukhari, Commissioner Secretary Transport, Kifayat Razvi, Transport Commissioner, MD JKSRTC, Director Horticulture, Kashmir, Director HP&M, MD JKHPMC, representatives of Transport and fruit Growers and Traders Associations.
The representatives of fruit-growers from Sopore, Baramulla, Pulwama, Kulgam, Shopian, Anantnag, Handwara and other parts of the Valley suggested various measures for smooth transportation of fruit from the Valley to outside markets.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
