Horticulture Minister Syed Basharat Ahmad Bukhari Friday called on Governor NN Vohra at the Raj Bhavan in Jammu.
According to an official spokesperson, Bukhari apprised the governor about various important initiatives taken under his directions to secure the rapid advancement of the horticulture sector in Jammu and Kashmir. It said, the governor reiterated his concern about the need to ensure timely advance planning for the establishment, both by growers and entrepreneurs of a well organised cold chain for preserving the fruit till it is marketed in late winter to secure maximum gain.
He emphasized that all required actions should be taken well before the recently laid high density orchards start bearing fruit and particularly pointed to the need for adequate capacities being also set up for providing packaging materials, besides a large number of fruit processing units to be established in the valley.
Governor also pointed to the need for significantly strengthening the two farm universities and a well considered master plan being prepared to determine the total area in the valley, and in the other two regions, which could optimally be brought under fruit plants of various kinds.