Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 21: Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, today called upon the agriculturists and fruit-growers to brace themselves up for stiffer competition emerging from fruit-producing markets from abroad.
He said easing of regulatory mechanism at the global level has brought in fierce competition, which the horticulture sector can survive only by proper grading and maintaining quality of its produce.
The Chief Minister was addressing a large gathering after laying foundation of the additional block of Kissan Ghar at Narwal, here today.
Laying stress on diversification of agriculture towards high-yielding crops, he said new technologies and best practices have to be adopted to enhance economic returns. For this, he suggested setting up of more CA stores so as to maintain the quality of fruit we produce. “Even in this onslaught from overseas markets, our fruit tastes much better, wherein lies the hope for survival,” he asserted.
Besides Speaker of Legislative Assembly, Kavinder Gupta, Deputy Chief Minister, Dr. Nirmal Singh, Minister for Horticulture, Haj & Auqaf, A. R. Veeri, Vice Chairman, J&K Kissan Board, Daljeet Singh, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, B. B. Vyas, Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, Dr. Pawan Kotwal, Secretary to Chief Minister, M. H. Malik, Deputy Commissioner, Jammu, Simrandeep Singh and several senior officers of the Horticulture Department were present on the occasion.
Referring to the Government’s decision to introduce Market Intervention Scheme (MIS) to lift C-grade fruit, Mufti Sayeed urged upon the fruit-growers to use wide range of irrigation technologies, in particular drip and trickle systems, to enhance quality of fruit. He said the Government will soon import rootstocks from Europe for shifting to high-density plantations to rejuvenate our orchards.
Asking scientists of SKUAST to share results of their research with the farmers and fruit-growers, the Chief Minister said technical knowhow is of no use unless tested in the fields. He asked the scientists to establish ‘Demonstration Plots’ for various fruits, keeping in mind the topography and suitability of environment, so that farmers, who are the principal stakeholders, have access to best practices.
Mufti Sayeed set a deadline of June 21, 2016 for completion of the additional block of Kissan Ghar. He also issued directions for establishing an ATM of J&K Bank within the market, blacktopping of roads, availability of drinking water and proper sewage and drainage disposal.
The Speaker, in his remarks, described the farmer as the backbone of the State’s economy and urged the Government to take every possible step towards promoting the agriculture and allied sectors.
Speaking on the occasion, Deputy Chief Minister said Jammu region has great potential for cultivating all kinds of fruits from temperate to sub-tropical zones.
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