Srinagar: The National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Ltd. (NAFED) has decided to buy fresh varieties of Kashmir cherry directly at farm level from farmers.
Informed sources told Ziraat Times that the procurement will begin from the Ist week of June, mainly with the help of FPOs supported by NAFED.
Meanwhile, Sanjeev Chadha, Managing Director of NAFED has informed that the federation will buy the cherries at farm level and will market Kashmiri cherries all across the country.
“The aim is to create a national brand for Kashmir-grown cherries and improve the market linkages so that our farmers are benefited. Major focus is being put on the quality of cherry and modern packaging of cherry so that branding of Kashmiri cherries is done to enhance its market placement” he said.
The cherry is planned to be lifted by air, by train and by road and will be sold across the country. The cherry will also be sold using e-auction at some of the major terminal markets, informed sources said.
Meanwhile, NAFED has also started farmer training and education programme through FPOs in J&K.
