Food & Beverage News: Top Stories - Jammu & Kashmir move to promote horticulture

A R Rather, finance minister of Jammu & Kashmir, said adequate steps would be taken to give a boost to the state's horticulture sector that had kept the economy going during the tough times of militancy.

While inaugurating a fruit market at chrar-e-sharief - about 30 km from Srinagar in Budgam district of central Kashmir, the minister said, "The horticulture sector has tremendous scope and will be promoted on modern lines." The market is the first of its kind in Rather's home constituency and is spread over six acres.

Rather also said the government had approached rural development bank Nabard for assistance so that major sectors including horticulture could be developed. "Another three acres of land would be arranged for the market to make it one of the biggest in the state where a lot of fruits could be stored for supply to other states," Rather added.

According to http://jkhortibiz.nic.in/, official website for the state's horticulture dept, there are three main operating fruit and vegetable markets, one each at Nowpora (Sopore), Parimpora (Srinagar), and Narwal (Jammu). These markets are getting developed into main centres for seller-buyer direct interaction in order to generate healthy competition and check malpractices in trade, bring improvements in product presentation and increase net returns to producers.

Further, the Directorate of Marketing & Inspections (DMI), Government of India, has also developed the Market Intelligence system which helps collect and disseminate market intelligence through connectivity with computers in main and satellite markets of the state and also connecting them to other regulated markets and area marketing offices outside state.

- Agencies