Jammu and Kashmir minister A R Veeri today said the Rs 500 crore package from the Centre for the state's horticulture sector will be game-changer and boost the industry.
The package was approved yesterday by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) to help apple growers rejuvenate old orchards and start new ones.
"This package will be a game-changer to boost and revive the horticulture industry, which is the backbone and among the most viable sectors of the state economy," Public Works Minister A R Veeri said.
Veeri expressed gratitude to the Union government for approving the Rs 500 crore 'Special Package' for rejuvenation of horticulture sector in the state.
"The state government is making all-out efforts to improve the socio-economic conditions of the people by launching various developmental programmes. The package for development of horticulture sector are among such programmes under taken by the present dispensation," he said.
"The government led by Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti is working hard to boost the horticulture industry, and has introduced innovative mechanisms and scientific approaches to enhance the production besides meet the market demand," he said.
Giving details, he said the package would be spent on restoration of damaged horticulture areas and its development in the state.
It comes as a part of the Prime Minister's Special Package, which includes a one-time relaxation of cost norms to implement the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH), he added.
"Import of special varieties of plants for better survival, early flowering and enhanced fruit planting material and four wire trellis system will result in increase of productivity by three to four times," Veeri said.
The minister said, 329 hectares of land shall be developed with high density plantation and 3,900 hectares of damaged orchid area will be developed with imported plants.
Besides 20 nurseries would be developed and 60 others would be upgraded under the package, he said.
"Rs 23 crore have been earmarked for the mechanisation process while Rs 35 crore shall be spent on protected cultivation, development of water resources and vermicompost," he said.
Provision for setting up of cold storages and food processing units are part of the package besides the development of three mega fruit mandis and restoration of two fruit mandis, Veeri said.
"High and medium density apple plantations would generate round-the-year employment in the sector besides resulting in employment in allied sectors such as grading or packing units, cold storage units and the transportation sector," he added.
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