Excelsior Correspondent
NEW DELHI, Sept 6: Jammu & Kashmir Agriculture Minister, Ghulam Nabi Lone Hanjura met Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh here today and sought from him the assistance of Atomic Energy technology for long-term food and agricultural product preservation.
Since Dr Jitendra Singh is also looking after the Department of Atomic Energy, Lone requested him to direct Scientists at the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), Mumbai to help the officials and functionaries in the J&K Department of Agriculture to develop the requisite technical know-how for long-term preservation of certain high value agriculture products, like mushroom, Rajmash, etc which are distinctly known to grow in the State.
Dr Jitendra Singh informed the J&K Minister that that Bhabha Atomic Research Centre in Mumbai has a separate and exclusive unit of food preservation and irradiation. It also, from time to time, holds demonstrations about the various techniques employed in this process and also considers offering training in the same , he said.
With the modern hi-tech facility and scientific update available, Dr Jitendra Singh said, irradiation and similar other techniques can be used to prolong the preservation life of certain vegetables,fruits and other agricultural products, which allows time for transportation to different areas and at the same time, also offers the prospect of an extra revenue.
Dr Jitendra Singh assured Lone that a frame-work will be worked out within a day or so as to plan as to whether the trainers will travel to the State or some of the relevant State officials may be deputed to spend a few weeks in the BARC to acquire the necessary skills. An MoU can also be signed for the purpose. At the same time, he said, the State Agricultural Department should also plan setting up a food processing unit or an irradiation plant at a suitable location in Jammu & Kashmir.
In addition, Lone also discussed some of the other State related issues with Dr Jitendra Singh and sought his intervention with other Ministries and Departments in Government of India for an expeditious follow-up.
Dr Jitendra Singh said, the Modi Government accords high priority to peripheral States of Jammu & Kashmir and Northeast, and is always forthcoming to offer every kind of assistance available.
Ghulam Nabi Lone Hanjura also called on Union Agriculture Minister, Radha Mohan Singh and Union Environment Minister, Dr Harshvardhan to discuss the measures underway for revamping Agriculture Sector of Jammu and Kashmir.
The Union Agriculture Minister assured the State Agriculture Minister that the financial help will be provided to the State to successfully implement various schemes and projects to achieve the set target of doubling the farmers’ income by the year 2022.
During the meeting, Union Environment Minister Dr Harshvardhan, assured Hanjura that Central Government will provide all possible financial and technical support to the State Government in mitigating the challenges posed by the climate change.
Hanjura informed Dr Harshvardhan about the issues pertaining to climate change and the problems being faced by the State due to climate changes.
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