Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Aug 5: Minister for Health, Horticulture and Floriculture, Sham Lal Sharma today said that the Government was committed to provide every type of marketing support to the fruit and flower growers of the State to promote this lucrative activity in the state.
The Minister was addressing flowers and fruit growers and a large number of public, after inaugurating a Floriculture Park at Chandian, Akhnoor.
The park has been developed by Floriculture Department at an estimated cost of Rs 1.32 crore over an area of 38,000 Sqft (7 kanals).
Mr Sham said that state’s economy is primarily rural, while horticulture and floriculture are major areas providing livelihood to the people and highlighted the significance of these sectors in the overall development of the state. He also exhorted upon the farmers community to come forward and take the benefits of the schemes launched by the Government for boosting floriculture, horticulture and agriculture production. He said that the Government was giving adequate subsidy on purchase of new equipments and establishing floriculture parks in the state.
The Minister said that attention was required to be focused both on the production of quality horticulture produce and its proper export to the terminal markets ensuring substantial returns to the fruit growers. He informed that last year production in floriculture sector touched to 45000 metric tons and it is expected to go up by 60 metric tons during the current financial year.
Mr Sham said that the production and productivity of both floriculture and horticulture have shown remarkable increase during last three and half years. He said attention was being paid to increase the per hectare production from present 150 metric tons to about 200 metric tons within next two and half years.
Appreciating the efforts of Floriculture Department for making new strides in strengthening the sector and ensuring welfare of the growers and other connected stockholders, the Minister emphasized the need to increase the per unit productivity and ensure better returns to the growers for their produce. He said that the processing and value addition to fruits and medicinal plants will not only improve income opportunities but also generate viable means of direct and indirect employment to both on farm and off farm activities.
Director Floriculture, K K Sharma, Director Horticulture, J N Sharma, SDM Akhnoor, BMO Akhnoor, Floriculture Association President, Sardar Tajender Singh, City President Akhnoor, Madan Lal Gupta, SDPO, prominent citizens, Sarpanchs and Panchs were also present on the occasion.
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