J&K generates Rs 7,506cr revenue from fruits in 2 yrs

JAMMU: Jammu and Kashmir has earned Rs 7,506 crore in the last two years from fruits.

The state has generated an income of Rs 7,506 crore by fruit production and its dispatches during last two years, the Minister for Horticulture and Floriculture Sham Lal Sharma said while replying to a question by PDP member Abdul Rehman Veeri in Legislative Assembly today.

He said keeping in view that horticulture is the mainstay of state's economy, the government is paying focused attention on its development by long and short term measures.

Post harvest management infrastructure has also been strengthened in the state. Terminal markets at Parimpora, Narwal and Sopore in the state have been established, he said, adding that eight satellite markets have also been made functional.

To provide the platform to the growers of Jammu division for marketing their produces, the work on development of fruit vegetable mandis at Bishnah, Kathua, Batote, Akhnoor and Rajouri is in advance stages and these would be made functional during the next fiscal, Sharma said.

The department is also organising weekly kissan markets in various localities of the twin cities in Jammu and Kashmir for growers to sell their produce to the consumers at reasonable rates, he said.