Srinagar: Minister for Horticulture, Syed Basharat Bukhari Tuesday directed officials to work in close coordination with farmers for successful conduct of elections to Agricultural Produce Market Committees (APMC), besides organizing awareness camps to promote use of new technologies and better farming practices.
The Minster said this while interacting with Deputy Commissioners and Chief Horticulture Officers of all districts via video conferencing to take detailed review on Horticulture Census, election to APMCs, implementation of ban on the sale of Ethepon, besides surprise inspections to check quality of pesticides and fungicides across the state and organizing mass awareness among growers.
Minister of State for Horticulture, Priya Sethi and Vice Chairperson of the State Horticulture Development Board Abdul Salam Reshi was also present in the meeting.
The Deputy Development Commissioners informed the Minister that the surprise markets checks were conducted across the State to check the sale of misbranded pesticides; samples have been lifted and sent to different labs.
The Minister directed for getting the medical reports as soon as possible for taking appropriate action in this regard. He directed for publishing the names of manufacturers and dealers from whom misbranded pesticides are seized to create public awareness about this menace.
Bukhari directed Director Horticulture Kashmir to issues communication to all concerned Deputy Commissioners for conducting a joint awareness camps especially in the interior areas of Districts in collaboration with J&K Bank and Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST).
The Minister directed Deputy Development Commissioner Bandipora to identify the land for development of Mandi in the District. He directed DDC Leh and Kargil to submit a Detailed Project Report regarding the development of Mandies and requirement of staff in their respective areas.
The Minister impressed upon all the DDC’s to expedite and complete the election process of APMC election and authenticating the collected data of land under fruit trees in every village with revenue authorities within 15 days.
Bukhari said that the government has undertaken a holistic programme for ensuring the equitable and sustainable development of horticulture sector in the state.
The Minster directed officials to work together with farmers for promoting use of new technologies and better farming practices and for conducting awareness camps at Zonal as well as district level.
Speaking on the occasion, Priya Sethi said that Jammu and Kashmir is one of the largest fruit producing states in the country and that the State Government is making all efforts to tap its optimal potential.
The Minister also called for improving service conditions of the Department’s field staff so that they could serve the people in a more professional manner and achieve tangible results on the ground.
Vice Chairman JKHPMC, Ghulam Mohammad Mir, Secretary Horticulture Manzoor Ahmad Lone, Director Horticulture Kashmir Mathoora Masoom, officials of JKHPMC and various other concerned Departments were also present in the meeting.
