Srinagar: Director Horticulture (P&M) as part of his initiative to know the ground level difficulties and issues of the Horticulture industry in the valley reached out to the growers of Sopore and Baramulla.
During his interaction at Asia’s second big fruit Mandi Sopore, he assured a full fledged support from the department in making the mandi more grower/trader and buyer friendly.He had a detailed discussion regarding issues and difficulties with the Fruit association members and growers of the apple town.
In their discussions, the association members and growers raised some important issues which they wanted the department to tackle at the earliest.
Director Horticulture (P&M) instructed the engineering wing of the department to take up the development of Baghi-Sundri Road in order to ease out the access to the Mandi.He further asked for the immediate renovation of the Kissan Ghar in the Mandi as the fruit season was about to begin.
He directed the Executive engineer PHE to ensure supply of atleast one water tanker to Mandi during the peak season till the water supply scheme is completed.
Director assured full support in the establishment of a Cold store in the Mandi.He assured them that the matter will be positively considered by the department and simultaneously the matter shall be taken up higher authorities .He ,however,stressed on the fact that such a big mandi should have a Cold store for the benefit of apple growers.
Regarding several other issues ,the Director Horticulture (P&M) pledged to resolve them as early as possible since further development of the Sopore mandi is the need of the hour.
Later the Director visited the Baramulla Mandi where he also deliberated upon a number of issues raised over there by growers and fruit Association members.
Director Horticulture took a strong note of the issue where the people get shops in Fruit Mandis allotted and then don’t construct shops as per the lease deeds.
He further said that it is this non construction of shops that in some mandis don’t function to full potential.
In this direction, he directed the officials of the department to cancel the lease deeds of such allottees who don’t start their business in Mandis.
The director said that all those shops whose lease deeds get cancelled will be allotted a fresh to other aspiring growers/traders.
Highlighting the importance of proper grading, he said that it is a universal fact that better graded produce always fetches a better price in the market. He further drew attention of the growers towards building a better relationship with buyers as a well graded product brings confidence in the consumers.
The Director said that the department in the past has regularly implemented Market Intervention scheme (MIS) for C grade apple and is actually envisioned to encourage growers to take up better grading practices. The motive, he further elaborated, was to strive to reduce the wastage of our fruits and adopting of ways to process the fruits which don’t meet the quality standards.
During the programme ,the Director also interacted with FPO entrepreneurs suggesting them of adopting government sponsored different schemes for the sector.On Mandi connectivity with the rail , Director said that he would take up the matter with the railway authorities of connecting the railway track with the Mandi for the better and easy transportation of fruit.
The Director Horticulture (P&M) accentuated the importance of the horticulture to the GDP and the role it plays in the livelihood of thousands of people who are directly and indirectly associated with it.

KR Desk