Kishtwar : Meeting the representatives of Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs), the Deputy Commissioner Kishtwar Pankaj Kumar Sharma praised their work and urged them to continue with the same commitment to strengthen the rural economy and enhance farmers’ income.
Under the guidance of Vice Chancellor SKUAST Jammu Professor BN Tripathi and supervision of FPO Development Officer Kishtwar Dr Shahnawaz Ahmed, the Chenab Forest Herbal Farmer Producer Organisation Cooperative Limited Kishtwar under the Jammu & Kashmir Competitiveness Improvement in Agriculture and Allied Sectors Project (JKCIP) Scheme, has supplied herbal products worth ₹1,46,600 to Cooperative Super Bazar, Jammu and to the Zonal Conference of the Department of Cooperatives held at Srinagar. Besides this, products worth ₹85,600 were supplied to Cooperative Super Bazar, Jammu and products worth ₹38,000 were sold to Amritsar-based firm Bala Ji Enterprises.
The consignment comprised 14 different items, including Immunity Booster Tea, Lung Detox Tea, Sleep Well Tea, Women Wellness Tea, Sugar Tea, Mix Mushroom Tea, Cold Cough & Flu Tea, Male Wellness Powder, Saffron, Hair Growth Oil, Joint Pain Oil, Nabi Oil and Shilajit. In total, 200 packages were supplied to promote local herbal products through the cooperative retail network.
For the Zonal Conference of the Department of Cooperatives held at Srinagar, the FPO supplied products worth ₹61,000. The consignment included 100 packages of Immunity Booster Tea and 100 packages of Lung Detox Tea, totalling 200 packages.
The initiative aimed to showcase the quality of herbal products produced by local farmers on a UT-level platform. The Chenab Forest Herbal FPO continues to provide better market linkages to rural farmers and promote traditional herbal products of the Chenab Valley.
In the horticulture sector, Himalayan Walnut Farmer Producer Organisation, Mughalmaidan, operating under JKCIP, has emerged as a key player in promoting walnut cultivation and boosting farmers’ income.
The FPO specialises in producing high-quality grafted walnut plants using scientific techniques to ensure better yield and disease resistance. During the last financial year, Himalayan Walnut FPO sold 4,000 grafted walnut plants worth ₹20 lakh, providing direct livelihood support to local growers and contributing to the expansion of walnut cultivation in the region. The grafted plants have been well received by farmers for their superior quality and assured productivity.
Building on this success, the FPO has set a target of producing and selling 10,000 grafted walnut plants this year. Under the guidance of JKCIP, Himalayan Walnut FPO is undertaking large-scale grafting and nursery activities at Mughalmaidan to meet growing demand and strengthen the walnut economy of the district.
