Introduce horticulture crop insurance in J and K

MLA, M. Y. Tarigami has underscored the need for linking production with marketing channels adding that this was imperative to achieve dividents of increase in the fruit production.

Raising a supplementary to a question of Abdul Rehman Veeri in the Legislative Assembly today, Tarigami said though fruit production in the State has increased many folds but unless this production is linked to marketing, the benefits of the increase in production were not possible.

Tarigami said Horticulture is the major component of State’s economy adding that there was dire need for developing basic infrastructure for pre and post Harvest Management in this sector. He specifically urged for developing Grading and Packaging units and establishing cold chain to increase shelf life of the fruits so that it reaches to the terminal markets of the country in fresh condition. These facilities would enable fruit growers to fetch better remuneration of their produce, Tarigami added. Tarigami also urged for introducing crop insurance scheme to protect the fruit grower against the losses due to natural calamities including hailstorms and drought.

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Horticulture Expo 2011

Expo-2011 empty after inauguration

The scene at the Horticulture Expo-2011 was amusing after Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and other ministers left the venue. Within few minutes there were hardly one dozen people at the venue and most of the stall owners were either seen chatting with others or had left their stalls.

The Horticulture Expo-2011 was of three days and was scheduled to be started on November 18, but the stall owners informed that they got stalls on November 18 evening and on the morning of November 19 they had put their items on display. They further said that the gathering was witnessed only for two hours, only till the ministers were present at the venue.

“There were hardly any fruit growers in the Mela and the people gathered there were not actually fruit growers but had come for the lunch to be served there. The department has asked us to close stalls at 12:00 on Sunday” stall owners informed and added that the Mela was actually a show off by the department to gain publicity.

Horticulture Director JL Sharma informed that all the arrangements were made on November 18 and this morning at 8 AM, the stalls were ready for display. He further added that they were inviting farmers of Marh area tomorrow.