Prof Dalwai, Atal Dulloo, Prof Ganai, others hold deliberations on enhancing farm produce exports of UT to international markets
SRINAGAR: The third meeting of the UT-level Apex Committee on Export Promotion Policy for agriculture commodities of Jammu and Kashmir concluded Tuesday at Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, Shalimar campus.
The two-day meeting of the Apex Committee and Technical Working Groups was chaired by Chief Executive Officer (CEO) National Rainfed Area Authority, Prof Ashok Dalwai. Additional Chief Secretary, Agriculture Production Department (APD), Atal Dulloo, Vice Chancellor SKUAST-K, Prof Nazir A Ganai, Horticulture Commissioner, Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, GoI, Dr Prabhat Kumar, Former Vice Chancellor SKUAST-J, Dr JP Sharma, Former Director, IARI, Dr HS Gupta, and Deputy General Manager, APEDA Vinita Sudanshu, besides Deans, Directors of SKUAST-K, Directors of Line Departments, Chairmen Technical Working Groups and other officers of APD, participated in the meeting. Some of the Apex Committee members participated virtually in the meeting.
While summing up the proceedings of the second meeting of the Apex Committee, Prof Ganai put forth the vision behind the formation of the Export Promotion Policy and how it is going to change the growth trajectory of the UT, besides transforming subsistence agriculture into a sustainable high-income vocation for the farming community and the youth as the future agripreneurs.
Chairman of the meeting, Dr Dalwai took an exhaustive review of the draft export policy followed by threadbare discussions by the experts and scientists wherein export policy proposals for various commodities were presented and ratified.
Atal Dulloo put forth various suggestions for increasing the scale of production of new varieties having a competitive edge, quality certification of the products, track and traceability system, efficient logistics, processing, and proper packaging, branding and marketing so that J&K could emerge as a global export hub for its niche agri and allied products.
Prof SH Baba and Dr FA Shaheen presented detailed presentations, ‘Looking beyond HADP outcomes: Lessons for export policy’ and ‘Ushering New Horizons: Incubation, Innovation and startups’.
During the meeting mechanisms for exporting apple, cherry, walnut, honey, vegetables, saffron, basmati, lavender, lemon grass, forest-based products, wool, bivoltine silk, and pulses. The deliberations were followed by a round of inputs on the Export Policy and various operational and strategic interventions for export promotion.
It was also agreed to add non-agri products in the policy and create efforts to shift from a linear economy to the circular one. The formation of the committee is to facilitate and boost the export of various agriculture and allied commodities from J&K.

KR Desk