Excelsior Correspondent
AKHNOOR, Apr 23: With a view to further strengthen marketing facilities for the farmers, Minister for Horticulture & Floriculture, Sham Lal Sharma today dedicated fruit and vegetable market to the locals at village Daskal.
The market has been constructed at an estimated cost of Rs. 2.22 crore by the Horticulture (Planning & Marketing) Department, which is spread over a land of 20 kanals. The project comprises 2 numbers of auction platforms, 1 administrative block, 1 toilet block and other basic facilities for the business community.
MP Madan Lal Sharma, Vice Chairman, OBC Advisory Board, Master Kuldeep Verma, former MLA and senior Congress leader, Th. Shiv Dev Singh, Congress Block President, Ram Saran Bhagat, Director Planning & Marketing, Javed Ahmed Khan, Director Floriculture, K.K.Sharma, Director Horticulture, J.N.Sharma, were present on the occasion.
Speaking on the occasion, the Minister said that Government was committed to provide marketing facilities to the farmers at their doorsteps. He said horticulture is the mainstay of state’s economy and all out efforts are being made to further boost this industry in the State.
Maintaining that Jammu division has great potential of horticulture and floriculture, he advised the farmers to switch over to cash crops like mangoes, Amla, Alo-vera, guava, lemon, strawberry and flowers instead of traditional crops, adding that these crops have great demand in the market. He said Government also provides attractive incentives for the promotion of horticulture and people should come in a big way to avail these benefits.
The Minister also allotted 38 numbers of shops to the deserving applicant through draw of lot. He said there is still a provision of another 45 shops which will be allotted in the second phase. He asked the traders to start the business activities immediately at the newly set up market.
He also handed over incentive cheques amounting to Rs. 13.32 lakh amongst the 306 progressive floriculture farmers on the occasion.
Madan Lal Sharma said that farmers of the area will be directly benefitted and local produce will be marketed in a systematic way. He asked the farmers to focus on the horticulture and floriculture activities to improve their economic.
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