Jammu, July 17: As a part of a massive plan to grab the national and international horticulture markets, 15 upcoming modern fruit and vegetable mandis in Jammu and Kashmir would be linked with internet connection to have access to daily updates about market rates.
 It is part of technology mission and so far the state has received Rs 3.75 cr from the centre for creating internet facility centers at each Mandi. This is part of the central government mission to facilitate wider access to the farmers in J&K to reach out to buyers outside the state.
 The state of the art wholesale mandis that will begin to function in the state from next year will have lodging, eating points, post offices and banking facilities for the farmers.
 Apart from this, to carry out business with private companies, government is also roping in multinational companies for buy-back policy to boost vegetable cultivation and marketing.
 Sources said that the government is also in the process of amending the Agriculture Production Marketing Regularity Act to make those facilities accessible to farmers which were until now denied to them.
 “So far we had no access to the market rates in other mandis of the country. We hope it will protect us from the middleman,” said Kulbushan Sharma, a farmer leader.
 “We are making every effort to modernize the mandis across the state under the centrally sponsored project. Centre has assured us of giving additional money to update the facilities according to the needs,” said Minister of Horticulture, Sham Lal Sharma,
 Work is going on 15 wholesale and satellite mandis in the state, eight in Kashmir and seven in Jammu region.
In Jammu these mandis will be established at Udhampur, Kathua, Akhnoor, Bishnah, Batote, Rajouri and Doda. In Kashmir the centres will be located at Kulgam, Shopian, Char-e-sharief, Baramulla, Handwara, Sopore, Kupwara and Pulwama.
Last year about 1.25 lakh tonne of vegetables worth Rs. 150 cr were exported from Jammu and Kashmir. The state is hoping to further increase export for which purpose these modern facilities are being created to accommodate farmers.

Lastupdate on : Sun, 17 Jul 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sun, 17 Jul 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Mon, 18 Jul 2011 00:00:00 IST