J&K fruit export touches Rs 4,200 cr mark: Govt

JAMMU: J&K government today said the turnover on account of export of fruits from the state has reached a level of Rs 4,200 crore.

"The turnover on account of export of fruits of the state has reached a level of Rs 4,200 crore as on date", Minister for Agriculture Production Ghulam Hassan Mir said here today while replying to the discussion on demand of grants of his department in Assembly today.

The Minister said that Kashmir valley is proud to export 90 per cent apple requirement of the country's population and it is our duty to launch latest post-harvest projects under private and public sector to fill market demand.

He said that three cold stores are functioning in the valley and four more are in pipeline.

Saying that there is tremendous demand of high-density fruit plants among the farmers, the Minister called upon all the legislators to motivate the educated youth of their respective areas for the development of high-density nurseries of fruit plants, for which the horticulture department is providing incentives under various centrally sponsored schemes.

Underscoring the need to develop the floriculture on commercial lines, Minister asked the youth to opt it as a profession because the department has adopted commercial floriculture, which include providing of financial and technical assistance and development of post-harvest facilities and marketing channels for the benefit of the growers.