Addressing fruit growers and officials after inaugurating a ‘Fruit Festival’ sale of fresh fruits and photo exhibition on horticulture here at Kala Kendra Jammu, he said horticulture is bulwark of state’s economy and provides significant succor to the development process and generation of employment for a large chunk of population directly and indirectly.
The 3-day Mela and Photo exhibition has been organized by the Horticulture Planning and Marketing Department in collaboration with the Information and Public Relations Department.
Sham said that there was a need to pay more attention on the production of quality horticulture and its export to the terminal markets to ensure substantial returns to the fruit growers. He said these events provide an opportunity to the fruit growers to share experiences and get acquaintance about the new marketing strategies at a single platform. He also hoped that the Fruit Festival and Photo Exhibition would prove beneficial to the fruit growers of the state.
As many as 16 stalls of full range of fresh and dry fruits and other products including best quality apples from Shopian, Pulwama, Sopore besides Kupwara walnuts, Kargil Khubani and the famous Bhaderwahi Rajmash and Annardana.
Appreciating the efforts of Horticulture Department for making new strides in strengthening the sector and ensuring welfare of the growers and other connected stakeholders, the Minister emphasized the need of increasing the per unit productivity and ensuring better returns to the growers for their produce. He said that processing and value addition to fruits and medicinal plants will not only improve income opportunities but also generate viable means of direct and indirect employment in both on farm and off-farm activities.
“We have not yet made any foray into the processing of medicinal plants’ and time has come to tap the huge market in this area. Similarly, the value addition in dry fruits for better price realization is also required” the Minister asserted. He said that this type of fruit festivals help Orchardists know the market nerve and consumer demands.
Giving details of production and export of fresh and dry fruit from the state during last three years, the Director Horticulture (P&M), Javed Ahmed Khan informed that as against 17.12 lakh tones of fruit production in the state in 2009-10, the production during the current financial year was expected to be 19.25 lakh tones. He said the export of fruit from the state during 2009-10 was to the tune of 9.57 lakh tones, while in 2010-11 it stood at 11.12 lakh tones. He also informed that the Department is establishing 25 fruit and vegetable markets in the state to enhance in marketing activities within the state and facilitate transshipment of fruit to the terminal markets.
Among others, Director Horticulture,
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