The Hindu : Other States / Jammu & Kashmir News : J&K to implement Agriculture Marketing Act

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Saturday, Jul 10, 2004

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J&K to implement Agriculture Marketing Act

SRINAGAR, JULY 9. Jammu and Kashmir has decided to implement the Agriculture Marketing Act with quality control as one of its critical features.

Maintaining that the agriculture was the mainstay of the state's economy, state agriculture minister Abdul Aziz Zarger said nearly 75 per cent people in the state are directly or indirectly related to agriculture.

The minister said in order to boost the industry the Horticulture Planning and Marketing Department had introduced various new schemes including the ``Market Intervention Scheme'' for apples during the year 2003-04.

The aim of the scheme is to improve quality and grading of the fruit so that best quality fruit can be procured and exported to outside markets. Growers would be provided marketing facilities for their off-grade fruit, the minister said.

The government will also encourage investment in processing sector by making available raw material at highly subsidised rates.

The minister said that during the last financial year 8000 MTs of c-grade apples were made available to the processing industry.

This year, the minister said, government has allocated Rs 14.50 crores for the purchase of c-grade apples from the growers.

The department is purchasing c-grade apple at Rs 3 per kg and to strengthen the local processing unit holders the same is sold at highly subsidised rate of 6 paisa per kg to them, the minister said.

Mr Zargar further said that there was a stiff competition in the market due to globalisation and in order to compete, ``we have to produce quality fruit''.

Looking towards expanding the market for horticulture products, the minister said during the current financial year, 30 per cent of total apples were dispatched to terminal markets in India.

The minister said that after a gap of 14 years, NAFED had agreed to restart marketing of agriculture products from the state. NAFED will charge only 4 per cent commission against more than 10 per cent, charged by Artis in the past on invoice value. NAFED will also make 50 per cent payments in advance and balance in one month.

The minister said, ``export of dry fruits has touched Rs 110 crores during the financial year 2003-04. Efforts are being made to export fresh fruits to SAARC countries.''

The minister stated that the Asian Development Bank (ADB) has declared the state as one amongst the state under its focus for development of commercial horticulture, agriculture with a proposal to set up primary processing units in the catchment areas, provide facilities like grading, cold storage and refrigerated transportation among others. These units would finally be handed over to the growers for management.

The government is establishing 17 satellite markets in the state at various places to ensure instant access to information of other mandis in India to the local growers, the minister said. -- UNI

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