Other States - Jammu & Kashmir   

`Artificial colours may destroy horticulture'

SRINAGAR, JULY 5. The Jammu and Kashmir Minister for Agriculture and Cooperatives, Abdul Aziz Zargar, has warned unscrupulous traders and orchardists against using hormones and artificial colours on fruits, saying that the practice is disastrous for plant growth, fruit production and the entire horticulture industry.

``This practice for petty gains is bound to bring a bad name to the fruits from Kashmir in the markets,'' Mr Zargar said, adding that the present government would not compromise on quality control measures.

Speaking at a get-together organised by the All-Jammu and Kashmir Horticulture Welfare Association, the minister called upon the law enforcement agencies to nip the evil in the bud by bringing the culprits to book. He said police assistance would also be made available to the enforcement staff to check the menace. He said government perks and incentives would be withdrawn from any fruit grower found using hormones to accelerate the ripening of fruits in their orchards. The Minister also called upon various fruit growers and traders' associations to cooperate with the field staff to make farmers aware of the ill effects of such hormones. The Minister also called for diversification and modernisation of horticulture sector with a focus on reviving traditional and heritage fruits like Ambri, Walnut and Almonds. He said that though some tangible strides have been made in the field of horticulture but much more is yet to be done keeping in view its significance in the economic scenario in the state.

Pointing to the various horticulture promotion measures taken by the coalition government, Mr Zargar said for the first time in the history of the state toll tax on export of fruits was exempted, thereby giving a benefit of about Rs 50 crores to the fruit growers.

He said Rs 14 crores have been earmarked for introduction of market intervention scheme this year to encourage standard grading of fruits and to promote fruit processing industry in the state.

He said Rs 100 crore technology mission for development of horticulture would go a long way in revolutionising the fruit industry, enabling it to compete in the market. -- UNI

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Other States

News: Front Page | National | Tamil Nadu | Andhra Pradesh | Karnataka | Kerala | New Delhi | Other States | International | Opinion | Business | Sport | Miscellaneous |
Advts: Classifieds | Employment | Updates: Breaking News |

Stories in this Section

• `Artificial colours may destroy horticulture'

Copyright © 2004, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu