Srinagar: The Department of Horticulture Planning and Marketing (HPM) in Jammu and Kashmir is facing a serious administrative crisis as several top posts remain vacant for months, hampering the execution of vital government schemes and disrupting services to fruit growers and agri-based entrepreneurs.
Official sources said that the post of Joint Director, HPM, has been lying vacant for the past 18 months, while the crucial position of Deputy Director Kashmir, HPM, has remained unfilled for the last 8 months. Adding to the woes, eight key Area Marketing Officer (AMO) posts—in Pulwama, Ganderbal, Baramulla, Kishtwar, Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, and Kolkata—have been lying vacant for over six months, bringing the departmental fieldwork and export facilitation activities to a virtual halt. “These are not just routine administrative vacancies; these posts form the backbone of horticulture marketing in J&K. Their prolonged absence is directly affecting the implementation of crucial schemes,” said a senior HPM official, speaking on condition of anonymity. Three major schemes—Holistic Agriculture Development Programme (HADP), Prime Minister’s Formalization of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME), and the Cold Chain Infrastructure Projects (CIP)—are reportedly suffering due to the leadership vacuum. An official associated with the implementation of HADP confirmed the slowdown. “Several proposals for post-harvest infrastructure, grading-packaging units, and cold storage chains are stuck in administrative limbo because the required officers are not in place to process them,” he said. Growers and traders, who depend heavily on government-supported market interventions and export linkages, have expressed strong concerns. “We are at a complete loss. There is no officer to guide us or take up issues related to transportation, quality control, or outside-market coordination. Our apples are perishable; delays cost us lakhs,” said Ghulam Nabi Mir, a fruit grower and trader from Sopore. Similarly, entrepreneurs in food processing are facing challenges accessing financial support under the PMFME scheme. “Applications are pending for months. Officers are not available to conduct physical verifications or recommend project approvals. We are stuck despite the scheme being promoted aggressively,” said Suhail Rather, a food entrepreneur based in Pulwama. The issue also impacts inter-state marketing of Kashmiri horticultural produce. “We don’t have a single AMO posted in Delhi, Mumbai, or Bangalore—all key markets for Kashmiri fruits. This has weakened our ability to respond to market fluctuations or create buyer linkages,” said another senior official in the department. Despite repeated appeals to the Directorate of Horticulture Planning and Marketing and the Administrative Department, the posts have not been filled. When contacted, a senior official in the Department of Agriculture Production and Farmers Welfare acknowledged the issue but claimed the matter is under review. “We are aware of the impact and are working on proposals to fill these key positions. Some appointments are likely to be finalized in the coming weeks,” the official said. However, insiders warn that any further delay could result in the loss of central funds, underperformance in flagship schemes, and alienation of growers during the crucial harvesting season. Experts suggest that the government must treat these vacancies as an urgent priority in light of Jammu and Kashmir’s ambition to become a major horticulture export hub. As the peak fruit season approaches, stakeholders are urging the J&K Government to expedite appointments and ensure uninterrupted implementation of horticulture schemes across the region.
