Jammu, Mar 16: Minister for Horticulture & Floriculture,Shah Lal Sharma has said that State has registered a record production of fruit during the current fiscal despite several odds. He said 20.50 lakh MTs of fruit was produced this year as against 17.12 lakh MTs during last year.
 Replying to the discussion on the Grants of Horticulture Department today, the Minister said that trade in fruit industry has witnessed boom with the establishment of 15 satellite fruit and vegetable markets and 3 terminal markets across the State.
 Giving details of the measures initiated for improving the facilities for the growers and traders, the Minister said that Government has proposed to set up cold storage facilities in Sopore, Baramulla, Kupwara, Handwara, Bandipora, Ganderbal, Shopian, Kulgam, Anantnag, Parimpora, Pulwama and Budgam in Kashmir and Narwal, Akhnoor, Udhampur and Kathua in Jammu division with a storage capacity of 516039 MTs for preservation of fresh fruits. He said Government has made effective interventions to ensure that horticulture produce from the valley reaches outside markets with a well-knit mechanism. The Chief Minister has been personally monitoring the progress on day-today basis, he maintained.
 The Minister further said that a network of mandies has been established across the State for marketing fruits and vegetables. This has facilitated growers as marketing facilities have now become available at their doorsteps. The fruits and vegetables worth Rs 250 to Rs 300 crore are being exported from the valley. For despatch of perishable items to different destinations, the Government has secured 150 sq. mtr. area at Srinagar airport for the establishment of Cold Store, with the help of Government of India, he asserted.
 Sharma apprised that 17 Refrigerated Vans (14 for Kashmir valley and 3 for Jammu division) are being procured during the current year for the disposal of commercial flowers. The department will operate the Vans on commercial basis for transportation of flower production within and outside the State. He said a flower mandi is being established in Srinagar during the current year to provide marketing facilities to the flower growers.
 The Minister further revealed that under Horticulture Mission, the Government of India will provide attractive incentives for the establishment of food processing units in the State. The Government will promote private sector to set up the food processing units. He said the department has established "'Kissan Ghars"at New Delhi and Jammu and one will also be established in Kolkata soon under PPP mode for the facilities of the farmers.
 Sharma said that the department has also initiated pro-active measures for the insurance of horticulture crops under the National Agriculture Crop Insurance Scheme. The yield/weather data have been provided to the AICL to work out the Insurance Premium rate to be shared by the farming community and the State and central Governments. This was the long pending demand of the farmers, who frequently suffer loss to their crops by natural calamities.
 Under the National Mission on Medicinal Plants, Rs 6.64 crore have been earmarked. The mission is being implemented through farmers organizations, self-help-groups and individuals. The financial assistance is being given for the development of nurseries for producing quality plant material, cultivation, processing, warehousing, upgradation of infrastructure and setting up of new herbal mandis, said   Sharma.

Lastupdate on : Wed, 16 Mar 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Wed, 16 Mar 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Thu, 17 Mar 2011 00:00:00 IST