New Delhi, March 18 (INFO) – Minister for Horticulture, Mohammad Dillawar Mir, who was in the capital in connection with the problems of fruit growers of the
state, today spoke to Union Secretary, Fertilizers, J. S. Sharma and brought to his notice shortage of pesticides being observed in Jammu and Kashmir. Mir has asked the Principal Secretary Agriculture/ Horticulture, Sonali Kumar to pursue the matter with the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers in the capital, who instantly called on the union fertilizer secretary and discussed ways and means to solve the problems of the farmers of the state. It is in place to mention here that a delegation of Kashmir Apple Merchants Association (KAMA) yesterday called on the Minister and complained of the shortage of pesticides in the state. They had also brought to his notice that spurious pesticides were being sold in the market and wanted an end to it. The Minister had a series of meetings with the fruit trading bodies of Delhi including Agriculture Produce Market Committee (APMC) of Fruit and Vegetable Market, Azadpur, New Delhi and Kashmir Apple Merchants Association (KAMA) to discuss the issues facing the fruit growers of the state. He asked them to give wholehearted support to the fruit industry of Jammu and Kashmir that is the mainstay of state’s economy. He stressed on the need to further strengthen the trade relations to increase the fruit trading in both scale and scope. The representatives of these trading bodies assured the Minister that they would ensure that the fruit growers of J&K do not face any difficulty in their business operations in the capital. We are morally committed to see that no unfair trade practices are resorted to an Azadpur fruit mandi. We appeal to our grower brothers from J&K to come forward with complaints whenever they are overcharged", the representatives of Delhi fruit traders assured Mir adding that APMC has put in place a grievances redressal to solve problems of the fruit growers and dealers. The fruit grower and dealer fraternity of Kashmir was represented by the Chairman, Valley Fruit Growers and Dealers Association, Kh. Ghulam Mustafa and District Presidents of various fruit grower associations of the valley.