Horticulture Department plans to develop CA stores

Srinagar: Director Horticulture Kashmir, Ajaz Ahmad Bhat on Sunday said ‘Horticulture Department is exploring every opportunity to have the infrastructure of CA stores developed across J&K to provide best services to orchardists’.

He was speaking during his visit to Baramulla where he inspected various units established under the Post Harvest Management scheme like Controlled Atmosphere (CA) Stores/Food processing Units.

He also said Kashmir valley entrepreneurs have lately established sufficient number of CA stores having capacity of around 1.17 Lac MTs which is likely to reach 1.70 Lac by end of this year. However, he maintained that the required capacity is 4 lac MTs.

During the visit, Dir inspected various places to take the stock of developmental works including pack houses, vermicompost units, nurseries, tube/bore wells etc.

On the occasion he gave instructions to the Chief Horticulture Officer, Baramulla to develop various nurseries and multiply latest high quality root stock. He also took a detailed review of high density plantation programmes in the District.

Later, Director Horticulture alongwith team of officers inspected the Ripening Chamber at Parimpora Srinagar and C.A Store/Food Processing project at Zainakote Srinagar. During the interaction with the stakeholders, Director Horticulture emphasized on them to rationalize the rates for the benefit of growers and to ensure the running of C.A Stores as per required SOPs.

Director Horticulture stressed to establish more units in the Fruit Processing Sector, where the Government provides every possible support.