Srinagar: Amid lockdown and lack of availability of regular marketing facilities for the commercial and other vegetable farmers and to protect these farmers from the exploitation by mediators and commission agents, the Department of Agriculture in collaboration with JK HPMC has started a special drive wherein the JKHPMC procure the vegetable and other agriculture produce directly from these farmers and market it in and outside of the union territory to safeguard farmers interest and maximize the returns for their produce.
Director Agriculture Kashmir Chowdhary Mohammad Iqbal reiterated the commitment to provide vegetable growers and other farmers with marketing facilities for their produce for which a memorandum of understanding between the directorate of Agriculture Kashmir and J&K Horticulture Produce Marketing and Processing Corporation JKHPMC Ltd has been introduced to boost direct linkage between the farmers and the markets.
While starting this initiative JKHPMC procured 60 quintals of potato from Tulail Bandipora and in a visit to organic vegetable cluster Patal Bagh Pulwama where 1200 kanals have been brought under cultivation of peas and JKHPMC is ready to facilitate the marketing of the produce from the said area.
During the visit Director Agriculture Kashmir Chowdhary Mohammad Iqbal said this initiative is going to eliminate the exploitation of farmers by mediators and commission agents and will fetch more income for their produce which is the ultimate goal of the Department, he said the Department along with JKHPMC is trying to make this entire process easy, farmer friendly and more attractive so that more and more farmers get benefited by the this exercise.
MD JKHPMC Shafat Sultan while expressing his views said that the Corporation is taking all the necessary steps to trade /market fresh and dried vegetables both within and outside J&K. The corporation is trying to explore more marketing options for the vegetable and other agriculture products of the union territory, he said and added.
Besides others, the Director was accompanied by Joint Director Agriculture Extension Mohammad Qasim Gani, Deputy Director Law Enforcement Mohammad Younis Chowdhary.

KR Desk