J&K govt promises to address local fruit growers’ issues: Minister

Jammu: Jammu and Kashmir’s agriculture minister, Javed Ahmad Dar, has firmly said that the Omar Abdullah government has made a commitment to leave no stone unturned for the promotion of the horticulture sector. Regarding this, a welfare initiative will be taken for fruit traders and growers in the valley soon. The minister explained while conducting a meeting with the members of the Jammu Fruit Traders Association at Fruit Mandi Narwal.

Discussion took place on vital issues to make the horticulture sector more potent as it plays a key role in strengthening the valley’s economy. Dar further added that about 70 to 80 percent of people in Jammu and Kashmir are depending on horticulture, and the government will not remain in solving farmers’ challenges they are facing at the moment.

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The minister accepted that there is a need for the establishment of additional storage facilities for apple produce to provide support to apple growers. He also said that efforts are going on to find a suitable land so that storage facilities could be set up to keep the farmers’ apples fresh for a longer period of time.

President of the fruit traders association, Parveen Kumar, tabled a long list of issues being faced by farmers in the valley, including checking the import quality of fruits to safeguard the local farmers’ interests. An arrangement of grading facilities, especially for walnuts, and improvement in the market structure is also needed so that local produce can compete in this cutthroat competition.

At the conclusion of the discussion, the minister assured that the local fruit growers concern would be the top priority for the government, and all the necessary steps will be taken to address them one by one as per the time and situation.