*Director Horticulture P&M J&K conducts Extensive tour of Chenab Valley Districts:* _Emphasized for Strengthening Post-Harvest Activities._

Doda, December 3; Committed to empowering farmers/ growers/ entrepreneurs/ FPOs/ societies/ SHGs and other stake holders, Director Horticulture (Planning & Marketing ) J&K Sh. VISHESH PAL MAHAJAN  conducted a two day’s extensive tour to the districts of Doda and Kishtwar from 1st of Dec-2021 thereby emphasizing for strengthening Agriculture Marketing in each district in a big way ENSURING OPTIMUM RETURNS and creating NEEDY MARKETING INFRASTRUCTURE, providing Forward Marketing Linkages to farmers, and in addition reviewed overall initiatives and efforts put in place by the department visioning to make our farmers and other stake holders as “ATAMNIRBHAR and SAMRIDH”. 

 

He was accompanied by Dy. Director Jammu Sh. Aijaz Ahmed Natnoo, Asstt. Director (Grading & Packing) Sh. Tehsin Iqbal Chib, Asstt. Director (T) Sh. Sourabh Sarangal, Area Marketing Officer Doda-Kishtwar Sh. Sunil Singh, AEE & J.E of Engineering wing (J), and P.A – S. Charan Kamal Singh. 

 

On day-I, the Director Horticulture (P&M) Sh. Vishesh Pal mahajan  while visiting the Fruit & Vegetable Mandi Batote issued instructions to to the Engineering wing on spot over the infrastructural development issues and also distributed trade Licenses to the market functionaries of the Mandi. Afterwards also inspected the construction work going on at Farmer Market at Kanderi Nalla. The work being in speedy progress, the Director directed the engineering wing and AMO Doda to ensure the in-auguration of the mandi in January-2022. Thereafter he met with Saffrom Growers and FPO members of Pochaal Kishtwar District and took cognizance of the saffron marketing methodology giving a patient hearing to their issues and redressed the same on spot with further directions to the accompanying officers to take note of the same and  adopt needed mechanism. 

 

The Director also met with Dy. Commissioner Kishtwar Sh. Ashok Sharma and apprised him about the functionaing of the department in the district. After brief meeting with the Dy. Commissioner Kishtwar, he was escorted to Atholi-Paddar area where they halted at night.

On day-II, Sh. Vishesh Pal Mahajan  DHP&M escorted to chair a Farmer / PRIs Camp at Atholi acquainting them about the value addition, e-NAM/ and digital marketing and other farmer oriented schemes. While returning back he held a meeting with farmers and PRIs of Galhar Block Nagsani &  mitigated their marketing issues on spot as well. Allied departments Officers were also present in the awareness camp. Afterwards he  interacted with President of Lavander growing farmers and Lavander Oil processors Sh. Bharat Bhushan at PRANOO village of Doda district. Director also held a meeting with the progressive growers of lavender and olive oil growers at Pranoo Doda and encouraged them to enhance their Lavander cultivation for optimum earnings. In his two day’s tour the Director Horticulture (P&M) J&K coverd the maxumum production areas of Kishtwar, Doda and even Ramban districts and asked the officers for redressal of majority of the issues of the farmers/ entrepreneurs/ other stake holders relating the the agri/ horti produce