Srinagar, Aug 26 (KNO): Director Horticulture Marketing J&K Ghulam Jeelani Zargar on Wednesday said that Jammu and Kashmir is gradually moving from bulk fruit production towards controlled production as the government is expanding mandi and storage infrastructure across the Union Territory.
Zargar, as per the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) said the expansion of the mandi network has significantly changed the way horticulture produce is marketed in J&K, with 37 mandis now facilitating trading activities across different regions.
He said around 99% of J&K’s horticulture produce was earlier sent to Azadpur Mandi in Delhi. The establishment of mandis within J&K has since created more avenues for growers to market their produce.
“Sopore Mandi, Asia’s second-largest fruit mandi, is sending produce to at least 200 destinations across the country,” Zargar said.
He said Sopore Mandi alone handles fruit trade worth around Rs 1,500 crore, with nearly 14 lakh metric tonnes of produce being dispatched to other states.
J&K’s horticulture produce is also being exported to countries including Bangladesh and Nepal, he added.
Zargar said the department faces a major challenge in marketing the region’s large production, with around 3.7 lakh hectares under horticulture and annual fruit production estimated at around 37 lakh tonnes.
“It is not easy to market such bulk production, but we assure that the department will leave no stone unturned to make way forward,” he said.
He said the sector was now moving towards controlled production, supported by the expansion of controlled-atmosphere storage facilities.
“CA stores have crossed 3.5 lakh tonnes, which is revolutionising the market,” Zargar said.
He said the expansion of storage capacity, coupled with the growing mandi network, would help regulate market arrivals and provide growers with greater flexibility in marketing their produce.
The Director said the department would continue to strengthen marketing infrastructure and explore new avenues to ensure better market access for J&K’s horticulture sector—(KNO)