SRINAGAR: The Jammu Kashmir Government is establishing a fruit mandi on 300 kanals of land at Aar Mohala, Kulgam, Minister for Agriculture Production Javid Ahmad Dar announced in the Legislative Assembly on Thursday. He said the process of transferring the land in favour of the department is currently underway.
Replying to a question by Legislator Abdul Majid Bhat Larmi on crop loss compensation, the Minister said two fruit and vegetable markets have already been set up in Anantnag district — at Batengo and Jablipora — both of which are fully functional and serving growers and traders across the district. In Kulgam, one mandi, Apni Mandi at Nunmai, is under development.
Dar informed the House that horticulture crop damage in Jammu Kashmir has been assessed over an area of 531.06 hectares, with compensation admissible only for losses exceeding 33 per cent, covering 431.091 hectares under SDRF/NDRF norms. He said a total of Rs 4.088 lakh has been paid as compensation in the South Kashmir districts of Anantnag, Kulgam, and Pulwama.
The Minister further revealed that one Controlled Atmosphere (C.A.) Storage Unit with a capacity of 5,000 metric tonnes has been established in Anantnag. He clarified that such storage facilities are developed by private entrepreneurs with government subsidies available to all eligible applicants.
Most existing CA stores are located in the Industrial Growth Centre, Lassipora (Pulwama) and the Industrial Estate, Aglar (Shopian), he said, adding that efforts are being made in coordination with the Industries and Commerce Department to create sector-specific industrial estates for horticulture and post-harvest management in other districts.
Dar also highlighted that awareness programmes and seminars are being regularly organised across Anantnag and Kulgam to inform fruit growers about incentives for cold storage and post-harvest infrastructure.
Legislators Justice (Retd) Hasnain Masoodi and Showkat Ahmad Ganie raised supplementary questions during the discussion.
