Basmati mandis to be set up across J&K: Minister

The Jammu and Kashmir government plans to open basmati mandis across the state to give better marketing facilities to farmers, state agriculture minister Ghulam Nabi Lone Hanjura, said.
The minister was addressing farmers after inaugurating the seventh annual buyer-seller meet for traditional aromatic basmati rice here.
The department will soon set up basmati mandies at several places where buyers and sellers will hold direct transactions to save farmers from exploitation at the hands of middleman, he said.
He said that it will immensely help basmati growers get better and viable marketing support.
Hanjura said that the department is also making efforts to make R S Pora Basmati Mandi operational.

The minister also said that Fasal Bima Yojana (crop insurance scheme) will be launched in the state soon.
He said that Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana (PMKSY) with its focus on adoption of micro-irrigation project and end-to-end irrigation solutions will help local farmers by providing them round the year irrigation facilities which will help increase their annual yield.