SRINAGAR: A two day Apple Festival was organized by the Department of Horticulture, Kashmir at SKICC Srinagar here. The festival was inaugurated by Lieutenant Governor, J&K Manoj Sinha and Kailash Choudhary, MOS, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Government of India was the guest of honour. Narendra Singh Tomar, Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, GOI virtually addressed the audience. Navin Kumar Chaudhary, Principal Secretary to Government, Horticulture Department, J&K, Vice Chancellor, SKUAST-K, HODs of various departments and Vice Chairperson, KVIB, Dr. HinaShafi Bhat participated in the Festival.
The main highlights of the festival were :
• Buyer seller meet
• Exhibition of local and exotic fruits especially Apple Varieties.
• Exhibition of high density plantation technology and latest Horticultural Machinery.
• Exhibition of latest varieties of fruit plants
• Unveiling of Horticulture booklets by the Hon’ble lieutenant Governor, J&K.
More than 40 stalls were installed at the venue, exhibiting a huge collection of local as well as exotic fruits, machinery, High density Technology. Technical sessions were also part of the event in which experts from SKUAST-K took part.
Interactions between buyers from all over the country and abroad like Lulu Group Dubai, Reliance India Ltd., Big Basket Begaluru, ITC Food Haryana, Grow Global Kolkata, PARC Mumbai, Innoterra Tech. Mumbai, Suro Agro Delhi, Frutech Agro Industries Pvt. Ltd. Maharashtra, were held with the prominent fruit dealers and Entrepreneurs from the UT. Subsequently, various MoUs between the buyers and sellers were inked.
The Hon’ble Union Minister, Mr. Narendra Singh Tomar in his speech said that these sort of programme would help in boosting the Horticulture Sector and that the Government of India is committed to uplift the income of farmers, for which various schemes have already been launched by the Department.
The Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor, while addressing the gathering congratulated the whole Department particularly Navin Kumar Chaudhary and Director General, Horticulture Kashmir for organizing such a mega event and also appreciated the working of the Department of Horticulture. He said that the Government is committed to bring all fruits under crop Insurance. He urged the Department to conduct awareness camps at gross root level, so that the farmers get acquainted with the Departmental schemes and technical knowhow. On the occasion he unveiled the booklets of the Horticulture Department.
Principal Secretary to Government, Horticulture Department, Navin Kumar Chaudhary, on the occasion said that Horticulture is the backbone of the UTs economy and various measures have been taken to further strengthen and boost the sector.
He added that the Department of Horticulture has been working relentlessly for the upliftment of the farming community.
While presenting a vote of thanks to the dignitaries/guests and other participants, Director General, Ajaz Ahmad Bhat, Director General, Horticulture highlighted the Departmental achievements and added that in future more such events will be organized.
At the conclusion of the event letters of appreciation and mementos were presented to the participants for their achievement in the Horticulture Sector.

KR Desk