Srinagar: Minister for Horticulture, Syed Basharat Bukhari Saturday said the government is working on infusing modern technology in horticulture sector to make it competitive in export markets.
The Minister said this during his extensive tour to Kolkata to review the functioning of Horticulture Department in the State.
To help the growth of exports in big markets in India, the Minister said a Cold Storage facility is being established in Kolkata with the capacity of 1.25 lakh fruit boxes, which will go a long way in increasing exports to the Eastern market. In addition to it, a Kisan Ghar with the capacity of 23 rooms is also being constructed in Kolkatta.
The Minister also met West Bengals’s Food Processing Industries and Horticulture Minister Abdur Razzak Molla and held a detailed discussion on various issues related to the Horticulture sector in both the states.
The Ministers discussed issues faced by traders, tax rebating and better coordination between trade associations.
The Ministers nominated nodal officers from West Bengal Horticulture Ministry and Jammu Kashmir Horticulture Ministry who will work in close coordination with each other to tackle the issues faced by the traders of the State.
Secretary Horticulture Manzoor Ahmad Lone and Director P&M Manzoor Ahmad Qadri also accompanied the Minister.
The Minister said horticulture industry has the capacity to change the fortunes of entire farming community in the State by employing modern technology in every aspect.
The Minister said the department is taking steps for improving quality and production of Horticulture crops by integrated implementation of viable, eco-friendly, validated and refined technologies, besides preparing a visionary document in the form of a Horticulture Policy for next 25-30 years.
