Srinagar, Oct 13: Jammu and Kashmir government will set up a national fruit market at a cost of Rs 17 crore in north Kashmir apple-town of Sopore besides other parts of the country to promote horticulture sector in the state. Sopore fruit Mandi will be developed into a national fruit market and Rs 17 crore is being spent for the purpose, state agriculture minister Abdul Aziz Zargar told a gathering of fruit growers and traders at the launch of market intervention scheme (MIS) at Sopore last evening.

Zargar said fruit mandis would be set up at Kolkata and Mumbai to provide better marketing choice to fruit growers and traders. Launching the MIS by flagging off a truckload of C-grade apples procured from fruit growers, the minister said about 8 procurement centres have been set under the scheme.

The coalition government had accorded top priority to the development of horticulture sector and a comprehensive programme was being formulated to create assured irrigation infrastructure to promote fruit industry, he said. A distinct trademark would also be created to establish credibility of Kashmiri fruit in the world market, he said.

Pointing out that Rs 100 crore technology mission for development of horticulture had been sanctioned by the Centre, he asked the fruit growers to take full advantage of the scheme and avail benefits under the agri expo zone for apple and walnut.

Bureau Report