Ensure apple orchard scheme reaches growers: J-K CM

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti today directed officials to ensure that the state government's High Density Apple Orchard scheme reaches growers in the valley's northern areas.
The scheme also aims to revive the state-run fruit processing plants and develop cold storage units near wholesale markets, an official spokesman said here.
The chief minister also asked the agencies concerned to sort out issues so that the industry which, she said, is a major contributor to the local economy gets a further push and the growers feel motivated, he said.
Mehbooba issued the directions at a high level meeting here with the agencies and officials.

The chief minister asked the vice-chancellor of the Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology to send a team of experts to the high density apple plantation for quarantine checks within a week and submit a report, the spokesman said.
She also asked the chairman of the JK Bank to further enhance credit facility to apple growers for broad basing the horticulture industry, the spokesman said.
The chief minister directed that there should be no delay in the disbursement of subsidy to apple growers in respect to horticulture promotion schemes, he said.