Jammu (PTI): The Jammu and Kashmir government has decided to constitute teams which will identify suitable varieties of fruit plants to be imported to give a boost to the horticulture sector in the state.

A decision to this effect was taken at a high level meeting convened here yesterday under the chairmanship of the Horticulture, Public Health Engineering (PHE), Irrigation and Flood Control, Mohammad Dilawar Mir.

Various issues under the technology mission programme for integrated development of horticulture was discussed in the meeting.

Mir asked the concerned officers to explore possibilities for airlifting the selected plants.

While stressing the implementation of technology mission programme for integrated development of horticulture with a mission, the minister asked the principal secretary to moot a comprehensive proposal for exemption of VAT on pesticides and fungicides, adding that this concession would provide much needed relief to the farming community.

He also called for early action for procurement of about 10 lakh card board cartons to improve grading and packaging of the fruits.

Senior officials and representatives of fruit growers and traders were present in the meeting.