Jammu, Apr 21: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Wednesday stressed on close cooperation between Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and J&K state to boost agriculture and allied sectors and create job facilities for the youth.
 Omar was chairing a meeting in which CII-Government of J&K Task Force on Agriculture made power point presentation of recommendations and issues pertaining to this sector.
 The Chief Minister, according to an official statement, said that there is tremendous scope for private investors to invest in horticulture and agriculture sectors, adding that close rapport is required between CII and the State Government departments in this regard. He said that promotion of agro-based activities and ensuring better market returns for the horticulture produce should be the focused area.
 Omar said that establishment of cold chain and market linkage facilities to regulate apple market and ensure better remuneration to the growers is imperative for strengthening and growth of horticulture industry in the state.
 Omar asked the CII to come up with concrete proposals in PPP mode for construction of cold storage facilities in fruit producing districts. He also directed for close liaison between horticulture and agriculture departments with CII for joint projects in this sector.
 Omar asked the CII to organize Investors-Buyers-Sellers Meet in the valley in the second week of September. He said such meets should be organized twice in a year in the State, one each at Jammu and Srinagar.
 The meeting was attended by the Minister for Agriculture,   Ghulam Hassan Mir, Minister for Horticulture,   Sham Lal Sharma, Minister of State for Horticulture,   Javaid Ahmed Dar, Advisors to the Chief Minister,   Mubarak Gul and   Devender Singh Rana, Principal Secretary, Agriculture,   Iqbal Khandey, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister,   Khurshid Ahmed Ganai, Chairman J&K Bank, Dr. Haseeb Drabu, various senior officers and representatives of food growers. The high-level CII team was led by its Chairman   Rakesh Bharti Mittal.
 In the power point presentation,   Mittal and his team dwelt in detail about Jammu and Kashmir resources and capability leverage in agriculture sector.
 The issues relating to supply chain linkage, production advantage, private sector investment, support enabling infrastructure in PPP mode, policy initiatives, farmers training, mobile soil testing labs, value addition in the agri-produce, investors meet etc were presented and deliberated upon threadbare.
 In another presentation, Field Fresh Foods Private Limited highlighted its intention to invest in Kashmiri apple chain and support the industry to grow economically and earn better returns for the produce.

Lastupdate on : Wed, 21 Apr 2010 21:30:00 Mecca time
Lastupdate on : Wed, 21 Apr 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Thu, 22 Apr 2010 00:00:00 IST