J K News Today
Srinagar, May 25:

Director Horticulture (P&M) Vishesh Mahajan on Tuesday continuing with his programme
of reviewing
developmental work of Fruit & Vegetable
Mandis in valley, today visited Shopian and
Kulgam districts..
During the visit to Mega Fruit & Vegetable
market Aglar Shopian ,the Director was
received by the Fruit association members
and district officials of the department.
In the ensuing deliberations with the
growers/traders, fruit association members
,the Director was apprised about the burning
issues in the mandi which needed immediate
redressal by the department.
The long pending issue of traffic jam that
would hamper the smooth movement of fruit
trucks was resolved on the spot with
directions that the mandi establish separate
gates entry and exit gates that will help easing the situation.


Regarding allotment of shop sites , Vishesh Mahajan assured of the early resolution of the issue .He also asked for the early demarcation of mandi premises to ensure safety of the la nd property from encroachers.
The growers/traders raised an important
issue of construction of a protection bund
from the river side which comes under Tariq
road project. But on enquiry Director was
apprised that no funds were available with
the concerned department for the job. On this
Director Horticulture (P&M) promised to
raise the issue of protection bund with
Principal Secretary Navin Kumar Choudhary at the earliest.
He also called for proper drainage system inside the mandi in
order to encourage water recycling and rain
harvesting.
The Director ( P&M) whike responding to the demand of macdamisation of mandi roads raised by growers and traders , assured them that it would be undertaken in the coming months.
While addressing the trading community
,Director Mahajan advised them to start their business
activity in the online mode for which he asked
them to register their businesses on the
E-nam portal as early as possible. He also highlighted the benefits of trading online
and the vast field it opens for the growers as
well as traders.
Moreover Director specially called upon the
growers/traders to improve their fruit
grading & packing so that you fetch better
returns for the produce.For this Director
proposed to establish one grading line and a
pack house at the old fruit & Vegetable
Arhama mandi.

Later on Director Horticulture (P&M)
visited Kulgam Mandi where he also had a
detailed interaction with the farming
community about their issues as well as a
comprehensive review of activities going on
in the Fruit & vegetable Mandi.
The Director was briefed about the departmental developmental activities in the district apart from the F&V Market which
included the Apni Mandi Noonmai and
acquisition of land for CA store at Brazloo.
Director highlighted the importance of CA
storage in today’s market driven economy
and the effective role it has shown in
extending the post harvest life and quality of
a wide range of fruits and vegetables.
Director emphasized that avenues and
opportunities should be exploited to develop
a CA store at Brazloo in the PP mode for the
betterment of farming community.
The Director assured the Fruit Association
members ,demanding a hassle free movement
of fruit trucks on the national highway,that
the matter stands already taken with the
traffic police and they have assured of full
cooperation in this regard.