 Early Times Report
JAMMU, Mar 25: Divisional Commissioner Jammu, Dr Raghav Langer on Friday reviewed the functioning of Horticulture Planning and Marketing Department (HPMD) here at a meeting with Deputy Commissioners of Jammu division and concerned officers.
The meeting was attended in person by Director Horticulture Planning and Marketing Department, Vishesh Mahajan; Deputy Director HPM, Ayaz Ahmed; Assistant Director HPM, Tehsin Iqbal chib; Deputy Director Planning, Munish Dutta besides Deputy Commissioner of Jammu Division alongwith concerned district officers participated in the meeting through video conferencing.
The Divisional Commissioner reviewed the department schemes and plans besides functioning of existing fruits and vegetable markets in the districts.
Director HPM gave a detailed powerpoint presentation and apprised that in Jammu division the Department is managing 18 Mandis in 09 districts out of which 12 are functional and 06 are under development.
While giving details of objectives, the director informed that the objectives of the department was to facilitate farmers for enhancing their Income by Providing Market linkages, introducing new techniques, helping the farmers in the value addition and supply chain to ensure that their interest were not compromised, provide training and advising the farmers on various aspects of grading, packaging, value addition and processing, establishing Mandis for providing organized marketing centers to the traders and growers of J&K and guiding the farming community for adopting new technologies and farming methods for enhancing production and quality of the crops.
The Div Com also sought details from the Deputy Commissioner about the functioning of Mandis in their respective districts.
It was informed that total 18 mandis are functional in Jammu division including 4 in Jammu, 2 in Udhampur, 3 in Poonch, 2 in Kathua, 2 in Reasi, 1 in Samba, 1 in Rajouri, 1 in Ramban and 2 in Doda.
The Div Com said that Horticulture was one of the important sectors of Jammu and Kashmir and contributes immensely to the economy.
He directed the Deputy Commissioner to identify suitable state lands in their respective districts for establishment of more mandies to provide a better market to the farmers' produce. He said that the sector strengthens the financial condition of people associated with it and also helps in employment generation and other developmental aspects.
The variety of horticultural products of Jammu division has earned world-wide fame because of its good quality and taste.
The fruit crops grown here like apple, almonds, walnuts, pears, cherries and apricots in temperate areas and mango, citrus, litchi, etc in subtropical areas are known all over the globe, hence adequate marketplaces were the need of the hour.
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