Mandi would provide better marketing facilities to growers, dealers: Veeri
SRINAGAR: Minister for Horticulture, Mr. Abdul Rehman Veeri today visited Jablipora, Bijbehara and took stock of the Terminal Fruit Market being set up there.
The Terminal Fruit Market is being developed on 440 kanals of land at an estimated cost of Rs 40 crore with NABARD funding. In first phase Rs 5.67 crore have been sanctioned by the NABARD and Rs 1.75 crore released for the project. The earth filling work of the terminal market is apace.
After completion, the terminal market would have 760 shop sites, 12 auction platforms, Cold storage, packing and grading unit, administrative block, parking yard, guard rooms, public conveniences, weighing bridge and other requisite facilities.
During the inspection, the Horticulture Minister directed the concerned authorities to expedite the work of terminal market for operation of the first phase of the market during this fiscal.
The Minister said that Jablipora terminal market would be a mega market for south Kashmir located near rail way track and super high way, provide better marketing facility to the growers and traders. He said this terminal market would be developed on modern lines and would have facilities of cold storage, grading and packing unit and kissan ghar.
Addressing the fruit growers and dealers on the occasion, the Minister termed horticulture as bulwark of States economy adding that this sector provides significant succour to the development process and generates employment for a large chunk of population directly and indirectly.
The Minister said the government has taken several innovative initiatives to revamp this industry. He said high density fruit plants imported from European Countries would be introduced in the State for better yielding. He said government also considers introducing Market Intervention Scheme (MIS) for support price of the growers adding that the government would constitute State Regularity Authority to control the sale of spurious pesticides.
Mr. Veeri said that government will also establish soil testing laboratories in every district and pesticides laboratories at divisional level to provide the facility to the fruit growers.
Responding to the demands of the locals, the Minister said that Jablipora village would be developed on modern lines with all basic facilities. He said due representation would be given to the affected farmers in the terminal market. He said 50 kiosks after construction would be allotted to the local un-employed youth in the market.
MLA, Homeshalibug, Mr. Abdul Majid Bhat, who accompanied the Minister demanded due compensation and representation to the affected farmers in the fruit market.
Meanwhile, the Minister also visited Fruit Mandi Kunjigund and directed concerned authorities for initiating steps for macadamization of the approach road.
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