Revive HPMC through PPP

In Kashmir valley horticulture sector has emerged as an important agri based economy. During last two decades there has been a sudden shift from traditional agricultural activities to apple farming. Paddy lands and dry Karewa lands both have been converted into apple orchards.

This is again a debatable issue as it can lead to food crisis in future. Well maintained apple orchard was prerogative of people from Sopore, Baramulla or some villages in Kulgam, Shopian or Pulwama until early 1980s. After 1990s this trend changed. Now most of the South Kashmir villages and even parts of North and Central Kashmir have well established fruit orchards especially the apple farms.

   

Most of the farming community in Kashmir have said goodbye to paddy cultivation. Apple farming has changed lives of rural communities all of a sudden especially South Kashmir and many parts of central and north Kashmir.

Horticulture sector has a potential to provide lots of jobs to youth but authorities are least bothered to explore the same. The assets and industrial owned by Agri based PSU’s are being either sold or rented out for non-technical activities.

J&K HPMC Ltd    

J&K Horticulture, Produce and Marketing Corporation Ltd(JK HPMC) was established as a state owned Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) morethat 40 years back. HPMC owned huge assets in Srinagar, Sopore (Doabgah) andseveral other places. HPMC had its own apple processing plants where applejuices , jams and apple concentrates were produced. In late 1970s world bankalso pumped money into HPMC’s projects. After the onset of militancy inJ&K, this profit making PSU started running in losses. Several officers ofHPMC Ltd further looted the corporation with the result this has becomecompletely defunct as on date.

Chadoora Unit 

With an aim of processing dry and fresh fruits like walnut, almonds, pear and apple, a fruit processing plant was set up at Chadoora by HPMC in mid 80s. This unit also became defunct within a few years. Instead of reviving and revitalizing it, Government recently decided to rent the site for setting up a makeshift Degree College.

Pertinently foundation stone for Degree College was already laid in the town outskirts at Wathoora on March 2nd which is mere 1 ½ Kms outside Chadoora market. Instead of setting prefab huts etc., there, HPMCs defunct site is being taken on a lease just to satisfy some local residents and shopkeepers.

When HPMC unit was set up more than 35 years back,  Chadoora & Charar e Sharief  had very less production of fruit especiallyapples and walnut. Right now there are large number of walnut, apple and pearorchards across Chadoora sub division. The HPMC plant at Chadoora locallycalled Jam Factory could have been revived through a Public Private Partnership(PPP) model paving a way for processing C grade fruit of the area which usuallyrots in orchards itself. This would have generated livelihood for local youth.

Conclusion     

All the sick / defunct PSU’s owned by J&K Government can be revived & rejuvenated under Public Private Partnership (PPP). HPMCs defunct plants at Chadoora or Sopore can be operationalized in view of local demand. Unfortunately Government’s ill policies is making things more complicated. By renting an Agri based Industrial unit to house a make-shift college exhibits lack of vision, incompetence and maladministration of our officials.  

If more than two dozen Controlled Atmospheric Stores (CA Stores) could be set up by private entrepreneurs in Lassipora or Rangreth during last 6 to 7 years only, why HPMC could not even establish one such store at Sopore  or Chadoora under PPP ? Let us agree that Government sector is fully corrupted and there is no will to work. It is better we lease out Government owned PSUs and their assets to local entrepreneurs. Within years they will be profit making institutions.

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