Sham Inaugurates Flower Market In Valley

Announced Kissan Ghars at Srinagar, Delhi

Nasir asks farmers to adopt flori-business for livelihood

Srinagar – In a bid to promote commercial floriculture in the State, minister for Floriculture Sham Lal Sharma Monday dedicated first of its kind exclusive flower mandi to the farmers.

The mandi has been constructed at an estimated cost of Rs. 1.22 crore under Rashtriya Krishi Vigyan Yojana (RKVY), a Central Government’s flagship programme.

Minister of State for Home and Tourism,  Nasir Aslam Wani, Director Floriculture, Kashmir . Sunil Misri, Managing Director, JKHPMC, Syed Rafiq Ahmed, Mission Director NRHM, Dr. Yashpal Sharma, Director Family Welfare, Dr. T.K.Moza, former Directors Floriculture and large numbers of farmers associated with the floriculture were present on the occasion.

Speaking on the occasion, the Minister said that floriculture is one of the potential sectors which can help in boosting the State’s economy, adding that during the past four years, the Government has made tremendous progress to promote this sector and generated awareness amongst the farmers. With the best efforts of the Department a large number of farmers are attracting towards this activity and adopting commercial floriculture in a big way as their livelihood. He said constant awareness campaign by the department in every nook and corner of the State has changed the scenario and it is matter of satisfaction that farmers are liberally taking up this activity and availing the benefits of several government schemes.

Setting up of exclusive flower market in the centrally located place viz; Rajbagh near horticulture complex is an attempt to promote the commercial floriculture activities in the Valley in a big way. The Government has tried to provide a platform for the disposal of the local production in an organized manner, the infrastructure is best in the country and developed on the pattern of flower market at Bangalore. With this facility the farmers will be able to market their products quickly and fetch good rates for different varieties of the flowers according to the market demand, said . Sham.

Listing the measures initiated to promote this sector, the Minister maintained that the Government has constructed 14 walk-in-cold rooms to preserve flowers in different districts of the valley. In addition, five Refrigeration Vans have been procured to facilitate the farmers to carry their products to different destinations. The Department has also set up a walk-in-cold room at the Srinagar Airport, enabling the farmers to preserve their products before their dispatch to different destinations, the Minister informed. He appealed the farmers to grow more and more flowers and avail benefits of various Government schemes.

Appreciating the performance of the department, the Minister said that officers have put on their best efforts in maintaining the world famous Mughal Gardens in the Valley and the endeavour has been appreciated by the President of India, Sri Pranab Mukherjee during his recent visit to the Valley. He said these gardens are major source of attraction for lakhs of tourists visiting the Valley round the year and it is a challenge for the officers to keep them in good conditions. He said during the past couple of years, the number of visitors in these gardens have increased manifold and department has earned substantial revenue in lieu of entry tickets. He said Government was committed to maintain the pristine glory of these heritage gardens.

On the occasion, the Minister announced construction of 40-room Kissan Ghar at Srinagar and a 50-room accommodation for the farmers at Delhi. He said farmers face difficulties in absence of accommodation when they visit Srinagar and Delhi cities in connection with their business and Government has decided to create such facilities for them.

Nasir Aslam Wani expressed his gratitude to the Horticulture Minister for creating the infrastructure for the farmers at the centrally location. He hoped that with the opening of flower mandi, the farmers will be able to dispose off their products at the doorstep. He said Valley has conducive atmosphere for the cultivation of different varieties of flowers which have tremendous market demand and asked the farmers to adopt this activity for attractive incentives. He described the step as a milestone in the history of Jammu and Kashmir and hoped that the facility will prove very useful for the farmers. He also offered to help the department for creating more facilities for the farmers/traders at the mandi.

Director Floriculture in his welcome address gave resume of the market and apprised that the mandi has been constructed over an area of 10 kanal. The project comprises of one 50×30 auction shed, display hall, two bath rooms, two walk-in-cold rooms and other facilities for the farmers. He said more features will be added in the market which includes, creation of Laboratory block and office space for the traders, Packing-cum-Grading Chamber, which are expected to cost over Rs. 35 lakh.

He said the department has mobilized the farmers in a big way to adopt the commercial floriculture which has huge scope. He said the department has been making every effort to motivate the farmers about the benefits of the floriculture and government incentives. The response is very encouraging and over 2000 farmers from different districts have registered with the department and are availing the benefits of schemes. He informed that this year the department has fixed a target of Rs. 7 crore incentives to the farmers to boost the flower production. He said last year an amount of Rs. 1.70 crore were provided as incentives to the farmers.

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