Minister for Horticulture, Syed Basharat Ahmed Bukhari today convened a high level meeting to review the status and implementation of directions and guidelines issued in various meetings chaired by the Minister earlier in Kashmir, Jammu and New Delhi.

Secretary Horticulture, M H Malik, Director Horticulture Jammu, Bhawani Rakwal and other senior officers of the department were present in the meeting. All the Deputy Commissioners of the state participated in the meeting through video conferencing.

The Minister said that horticulture contributes substantially to the state’s economy and the government is committed to ensure accessibility of end to end services to the cultivators involving production, protection, post harvest management, processing and marketing. “Substantial efforts are underway to revamp and revitalize the horticulture sector in the state”, he added.

To ascertain production and consumption pattern of horticulture produce in the state, the Minister had earlier ordered census of fruit trees, submission of crop wise details along with data on area under horticulture sector.

The Minister directed completion of the census proceedings in Jammu province by May 15, 2017 and that of Kashmir province by May 30, 2017. The meeting was informed that the concerned authorities have completed 25 percent census so far.

To introduce accountability, transparency and efficiency in regulation of marketing and transportation of horticulture produce in market areas, the Minister directed holding of elections to the marketing committees as per provisions of APMC Act.

Deputy Commissioners of the districts were asked to kick start the election preparations by compiling voters’ lists in this regard to be subsequently followed by rolls verification, filing of objections and election notification thereof.

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