JK News Today
Jammu, June 19:
Vishesh Mahajan JKAS Director Horticulture Planning and Marketing Department conducted an extensive tour of Poonch District to take first hand review of Agricultural Marketing activities existing in the District as well as giving on spot directions for further improvements. Among others, Vishesh Mahajan was accompanied by the Executive Engineer Horticulture, AMO Rajouri Poonch, Assistant Director G&P and other officers/officials of the Department.
The Director Horticulture Planning and Marketing visited Fruit and Vegetables Terminal Market at Khankoot in Poonch where he was welcomed by a number of growers, traders, agri enterpreneurs from the district. Director Horticulture Planning and Marketing had a detailed discussion with all stakeholders and gave on spot directions to the Executive Engineer Horticulture Department to construct a multi storey auction platform complex, first of its type in J&K, at F&V Terminal Market Khankoot. The AMO was given directions to immediately start agricultural marketing activities from the Mandi after taking annual usage charges from those interested to carry on wholesale trade of fruit and vegetables. Allotment of shops shall be made only to those applicants who run wholesale fruit and vegetables trade from the Mandi, satisfactorily atleast for one year.
The Director also asked the agri enterpreneurs, present in the meeting, to take benefits of a number of government schemes under PMFME ODOP, MIDH, NHB and set up their Agriculture Enterprises like Food Processing Units, CA stores, Refri Vans, Integrated pack houses. Director asked the agri enterpreneurs to go for drying of Horticulture Produce like strawberry, plum, apples, apricot and other local fruits which’ll have very good market not only in J&K but also outside the UT. It was focused upon them to set up a good supply chain for marketing of Anardana and Rajmash. Later, the Director met a delegation of local citizens and traders at Dak Bunglow. Farmers were exhorted to shift to high value products like baby corn, sweet corn, five grain floor.
Vishesh Mahajan gave them full assurance about accelerating agricultural marketing activities in Poonch district which is adjoining to Shopian in Kashmir valley and connected well to Kashmir via Mughal Road. The departmental officers under directions and guidance from Manoj Sinha Lt. Governor of the UT and Navin Chowdhury Principle Secretary Horticulture, are working day and night for economic upliftment of growers as well as our young agri enterpreneurs. A number of initiatives have already been taken by the Government, in this direction.
The Director also had a meeting with SSP Poonch to ensure uninterrupted movement of fresh fruits from Kashmir valley via Mughal Road in order to reach the destination well in time, as fresh fruits of Kashmir valley are highly perishable. It was decided in the meeting that the department shall share details of fruit trucks alongwith driver’s contact number, moving via Mughal Road, with the District Police Poonch well in advance so that these move to their destinations without getting stuck up anywhere on route.
