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| Horti sector getting added impetus | | | Early Times Report
Jammu, Dec 09: As compared to the irrigation and flood control sector and that of transport and social services sectors the plan allocation in the horticulture during 2009-10 in Jammu and Kashmir has been very meager and government is trying to revamp the sector.
Official reports said that while in the irrigation flood control sector the allocation has been kept 122 per cent higher from the last year's level of Rs.208.85 crores, in the transport sector the raise has been 90 per cent and in social services the hike has been to the tune of 42.87 per cent in case of horticulture the hike has been less than Rs 1.0 Crore.
During the current year the annual plan for the horticulture is Rs.13.82 Crores against Rs.12.65 Crores last year. Experts are of the opinion that the horticulture sector has been the backbone of the state's economy because of great potential it has in earning foreign exchange revenue through exports of fresh and dry fruits, especially walnuts, almonds, apples, apricots and saffron.
To make up for the loss the Departmnent of Horticulture has decided to increase the availability of high density plantation material over its present level of of nearly two lakh saplings per year by involving private sector. The Department will also encourage cultivators in the use of sprinkle, drip and root irrigation techniques and better farm management so as to ensure greater yield of various varieties of fruit.
In order to meet the growing challenge to its apple export from Himachal the state Government has decided to upgrade its post harvesting facilities, including grading and packing.
Official sources today said that the Government too is taking new initiatives to extend helping hand to the sector and has decided to seek guidance from a reputed consultant for setting up centrally air-conditioned stores and cold chains in the entire state in order to preserve harvested fruit. The state Government has already finalized with the airlines operatives and those heading the railways to ensure that fresh and perishable fruit was exported on priority basis to avoid losses to the dealers.
Besides the Horticulture Department will send its teams to Delhi, Mumbai Kolkata for exploring the scope for improving market facilities and it is felt that once the growers export fruit to Delhi the wholesalers create one impediment or the oat her which force the Kashmiri fruit dealers and growers to sell their produce for a song failing which they may loss their fruit in store.
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