ZT News Network
Srinagar: Jammu & Kashmir currently contributes major portion in total production of apple in the country, enabling it to rank 5th apple producing country in world. Abundant production must be followed by efficient marketing & better returns to the grower which can only be possible by regulated supply of produce in the market which is possible by storing the apple produce in CA Stores, Horticulture Department said today.
In 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, as per estimates around 4 lac MTs capacity is required, it added.
“In order to strengthen the grid of CA stores in valley, Horticulture Department Kashmir is exploring every opportunity to have the infrastructure of CA stores developed abundantly in Kashmir and best services are provided by the CA Stores to Orchardists. In line of various such visits to CA Stores, the latest being to Sopore of Baramulla District where Ajaz Ahmad Bhat, KAS Mission Director MIDH J&K inspected two CA Stores namely M/s Nundresh and M/s H.N Agri Cold Chain having capacity of 2000 MTs & 5000 MTs respectively. The former have recently been sanctioned in the EMC of MIDH GoI and the latter two years back under the scheme MIDH”, a statement issued by the Department said.
Director Horticulture was accompanied by Chief Horticulture Officer
Baramulla and other Officers of the Department. He exhorted CA Store owners to provide best services to the Orchardists during coming season.