Netherlands to help J-K in developing hi-tech horticulture

The Netherlands government would assist Jammu and Kashmir in developing hi-tech horticulture infrastructure in the state, its ambassador to India Alphonsus Stoelinga said here today.
The Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands was here to see demonstration projects of high density apple orchards established by the Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST) Kashmir in collaboration with companies from the European nation, said an official spokesperson.
The ambassador assured all possible help to the state, saying the Government of Netherlands looks forward to collaborating with Jammu and Kashmir and its farmers in hi- tech horticulture infrastructure development.
The spokesperson said the projects have been established under the international business programme of the Netherlands to showcase the advanced technology and high-quality virus- free apple and other fruit plant materials offered by the Dutch companies.

Vice-chancellor SKUAST, Nazeer Ahmed, informed the ambassador that apple trees from Netherlands, which were planted in April 2017, had produced quality crop during the current season.
The vice-chancellor said farmers from across the state are visiting the campus for demonstration of orchard plants invariably and are showing keen interest in adopting these orchard techniques, in particular apple plants from the Netherlands.
Ahmed further emphasised to work in close coordination with the Netherlands to have sustainable assistance in horticulture sector besides collaborating for transferring technology to take benefit of latest technological changes from the world's largest exporter of food products and leader in the sector, the spokesman said.

The ambassador visited two cold storage plants, Fruit Master Agro Fresh and H N Agri-Serve, using technology imported from Netherlands at Lassipora Pulwama in south Kashmir.