Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, May 27: The Government today admitted that State has adequate cold storage facilities while against the total requirement of 3.83 LMTs it has only 0.63 LMTs under private sector.
In a written reply to a question of MLA, M Y Tarigami in Lower House, the Minister Incharge Horticulture, said the department was exploring the possibility for establishment of cold stores under ‘PPP’ mode in four terminal fruit and vegetable markets and two satellite markets in first phase at Parimpora, Srinagar, Sopore, Narwal, Jablipora( Anantnag), Kulgam and Shopian.
“By providing such facilities the fruit can be retained for 3-4 months and will restrict its export in one go. At later stage fruit can be dispatched to different Mandis of country as per the demand enabling the growers to realize best remuneration prices,” he said.
In order to add additional capacity private entrepreneurs are being provided assistance/ credit linked subsidy for establishment of CA stores under Mission for Integrated development of Horticulture (MIDH).Further under NABARD multipurpose commodity cold store at Kolkata is being constructed at a cost of RS. 4.63 crore, the Minister stated.
The minister in his reply said the government is considering to wave off 50% KCC loan. “In order to make crop insurance simpler and cheaper for the farmers and to provide them with better insurance services, a central sector Scheme of Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) has been approved by the government,” he said.
The Minister further stated that Rs. 75 crores has been proposed on account of premium for implementation of Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) during 2016-17. “The government has constituted a committee under the chairmanship of Director Horticulture for revival/ merger of JKHPMC and it is under consideration of the government,” he said.
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