Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 18: Minister for Housing, Horticulture and Culture Raman Bhalla has said Government is making all out efforts to enhance fruit and vegetable industries in the State, adding that Horticulture sector provides significant succor to the development process and generation of employment for a large chunk of population directly and indirectly.
This was stated by the Minister while interacting with the officers of Horticulture Department at a review meeting held at Gandhi Nagar, here today.
MLA Rafiabad and Ex-Minister, Javed Ahmed Dar, Director Horticulture (P&M) Attah-ur-Rehman, Secretary Housing Board Rampaul Sharma besides other senior officers of Horticulture and Housing Board were present on the occasion.
Mr. Bhalla stressed for exploring new markets to promote State’s horticulture products. He said horticulture is the mainstay of our economy and all out efforts will be made to promote this vital sector appropriately.
The Minister asked the officers to put in their best efforts to enhance the business activities in their jurisdictions to improve the State’s economy further. He asked the officers for regular interaction between the growers and traders to sort out the petty issues and problems being faced by the business community associated with this trade. He said Central and State Governments have launched various schemes under Horticulture Sector like APEDA, NHB, HNHE, DMI, MFPI besides several other schemes to boost the economy of State’s produce.
He also discussed the strategy for transportation of State’s production to various destinations and said that attention was required to be focused both on the production of quality horticulture produce and its proper export to the terminal markets ensuring substantial returns to the fruit growers. He said that the production and productivity of horticulture have shown remarkable increase during last 4 years.
The Minister called upon the officer to motivate the growers and traders to ensure quality of fruit and vegetables in the market, adding that focus of the Government is to maintain the credibility of State’s production.
Trending Now
E-Paper
Follow our WhatsApp channel