In a major boost to agricultural infrastructure in Jammu region, Minister for Agriculture Production, Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, Cooperative and Election Department, Javid Ahmad Dar, on Wednesday inaugurated a state-of-the-art Fruit and Vegetable Aggregation, Processing, Grading and Packing Unit at Marh, Jammu.
MLA Marh Surinder Kumar Bhagat, Managing Director JKHPMC, Mohammad Farooq Dar, Director Agriculture Jammu Anil Gupta, Director Animal Husbandry Jammu, Sanjay Gupta, Director Horticulture Jammu, Gul Sayed and Director Sheep Husbandry Jammu, Dr Syed Moin-ul-Haq were present on the occasion.
Addressing the gathering, the Minister said that establishment of the processing unit will play a transformative role in strengthening post-harvest management, boosting processing capacity and significantly reducing post-harvest losses. He said the facility will add 100 metric tonnes of storage capacity, ensuring value addition and creating better marketing opportunities for the farmers at both local and national level.
He highlighted that Marh, known as the vegetable hub of Jammu district, contributes significantly to vegetable supplies across the region, making the installation of such a facility crucial for the farming community.
“The Rs 3.5 crore project will provide farmers with modern post-harvest infrastructure, helping minimise crop damage and ensuring improved returns through better grading, packing and storage facilities,” the Minister said.
Reiterating the government’s commitment towards farmers’ welfare, Javid Ahmad Dar said the Jammu and Kashmir government is ensuring the availability of high-quality seeds and fertilizers to maximise farm productivity. He added that exotic varieties of vegetable seeds and fruit plants are being made available through departmental channels.
The Minister further informed that Centres of Excellence have been established across all districts to provide quality seedlings and technical support to the farmers. He assured that the demands and concerns raised by MLA Marh Surinder Kumar Bhagat would be addressed on priority, adding that several initiatives have already been taken to facilitate the farming community.
He directed the field functionaries and departmental officers to work tirelessly for resolving farmers’ issues and to intensify awareness campaigns regarding welfare schemes being implemented by the Jammu and Kashmir Government and the Government of India.
Speaking on the occasion, MLA Marh Surinder Kumar Bhagat appreciated the department for establishing the processing unit in his constituency and termed it a landmark step for strengthening the agricultural economy of the area.
Earlier, Managing Director JKHPMC briefed the gathering about the significance of the project, stating that the unit will play a pivotal role in enhancing the farmers’ income, promoting agriculture and horticulture produce and increasing shelf life of perishable products by two to three times through advanced pre-cooling and storage facilities.