Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, July 18: Continuing efforts to further strengthen the post-harvesting management and to preserve the State’s agro based and horticulture produces for a longer period, Minister for Agriculture, Ghulam Hassan Mir and Minister for Horticulture, Raman Bhalla dedicated a 550 MT capacity modern cold storage and an Agro Mall (Sale Outlet) to the growers/traders at Lal Mandi, here today.
Both these facilities have been developed by the J&K Agro Industries Corporation Limited. The cold storage has been built at an estimated cost of Rs. 2. 60 crore, whereas the Agro Mall costs Rs. 33 lakh.
Minister of State for Animal Husbandry and Agriculture, Nazir Ahmed Gurezi and Commissioner/Secretary Agriculture Production, Dr. Asgar Hassan Samoon were also present on the occasion.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Mir said that cold storage is the prime need of the growers/traders for preservation of their products for a longer period so that they can sell their produces as per their wish and market trends.
He said that farming community was continuously demanding for this facility and now their dream has come true with the sincere efforts of the Government.
He said Government was contemplating to establish cold storages at the block level for the facilities of the farmers under NABARD funding. He said Central Government is very keen to promote the horticulture/agro based industries in the State for which they have provided special incentives under different flagship programmes.
Mr. Bhalla, in his brief address said that with the inauguration of first ever cold storage in Valley with Government funding will prove a landmark facility for the fruit growers and traders. He said this is the beginning of new era for the growers and more such cold storages will come up in near future at different places across the State. He appealed the private players to come forward and develop the cold storages under PPP mode for which the Government provides more than 50 per cent subsidy.
He said Jammu and Kashmir is one of the largest producers of horticulture products in the country and Centre has put the State on priority and agreed to provide special incentives for further promotion of horticulture sector. Under Technology Mission and RKVY progammes, the Centre provides attractive benefits to the farmers for promotion of this sector, adding that farmers should reap benefits out of these programmes.
Mr. Gurezi stressed the need for strengthening the cold storage network in the State for the benefits of traders, which is need of the hour.
Mr. Samoon highlighted the significance of the assets.
In his welcome address, the Managing Director, J&K Agro Industries Corporation, Abdul Majid said that the Corporation has been striving hard to address the problems of the farmers and providing them agro based material on concessional rates.
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