Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Feb 7: With an aim to boost economy and upgrading horticulture infrastructure, Secretary, Agriculture Production and Horticulture Department, Manzoor Ahmad Lone today said that Jammu and Kashmir would soon have its own Horticulture Policy to tackle upcoming marketing challenges and increase the production manifold.
“Jammu and Kashmir Government will come up with its own Horticulture Policy, which will be focusing to increase production and tackling climate change, given the unique temperature of this place,” said Secretary, Agriculture Production and Horticulture Departments, Manzoor Ahmad Lone, while holding public grievance camp here.
“The policy has been drafted and it has gone for the comments to all the stakeholders. We are hopeful that we will soon have our own policy, which will be focusing on boosting economy and upgrading horticulture infrastructure,” Lone informed.
The proposed policy would suggest appropriate technological interventions human resource development to meet the national nutrition requirements, international competition and safeguard the interest of growers and increase in their income.
“Horticulture sector plays an important role in any region and contributes significantly to the region’s economy. In Jammu and Kashmir Horticulture is a source of livelihood for 33 lakh population. About seven lakh families are directly or indirectly involved and depend on the Horticulture sector,” he informed.
He said that Horticulture sector also provides jobs to other related trades such as fertilizer, pesticides, Agriculture machinery, traders and processing of fruits, etc.
He said that the Department of Horticulture Planning and Marketing provides timely market feedback and guide the fruit growers in marketing, handling of post-harvest operation/activities in order to face the market challenges.
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