Baramulla, Aug 15 (KNO): The Jammu and Kashmir government has planned an expansion of cold storage, agricultural technology and horticulture infrastructure across the Union Territory, with an additional 50,000 metric tonnes of cold storage capacity proposed to support farmers and strengthen post-harvest management.
Speaking after hoisting the national flag at Baramulla on Independence Day, Minister Javed Ahmad Dar, as reported by the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), said the additional capacity would take the overall cold storage capacity in Jammu and Kashmir to around 3.5 lakh metric tonnes. More than half of the capacity, he said, would be made available for farmers.
Dar said the government was focusing on modernising agriculture through technology, better irrigation facilities and improved market access.
"Crop digitisation was being undertaken across all districts, with more than 10 lakh agricultural plots targeted to be brought onto a digital platform," he said. adding that 16,000 hectares of land had been brought under irrigation during the current financial year to improve agricultural production.
The government also plans to promote oilseed cultivation across 3 lakh hectares, which the minister said would help boost the income of growers and contribute to economic growth.
For vegetable and floriculture sectors, the government plans to establish Centres of Excellence in every district.
Dar said Jammu already has such a centre, while facilities in Kathua, Rajouri, Baramulla and Srinagar would be established during the current year.
The minister said the government was also working to strengthen horticulture infrastructure, particularly storage, grading, packaging and marketing facilities.
He said fruit mandis at Beerwah, Pattan, Tangmarg and Tral would be established during the current financial year. Funds have already been allocated, and work would commence soon, he said.
The minister said existing fruit markets, including Narwal in Jammu and Jablipora in Anantnag, had been equipped with modern packing, grading and storage facilities, while the Sopore Fruit Mandi was also being considered for infrastructure upgradation.
He said works worth more than Rs 17 crore in Sopore were under consideration and would be executed soon. "A 2,500 metric tonne controlled-atmosphere storage facility has also been established at Mazbug, while technical apple packaging and high-tech storage infrastructure is being developed at Behrampora in Rafiabad," he said.
Dar said the Government of India was reviewing the weather-based crop insurance scheme, following which the tendering process would be taken up in Jammu and Kashmir.
"The measures were aimed at improving productivity, reducing post-harvest losses, strengthening market linkages and ensuring better economic returns for farmers and horticulture growers," the minister said—(KNO)