Kolkata: The Department of Horticulture (Planning & Marketing), Jammu & Kashmir, on Saturday organized a Buyer-Seller Meet in Kolkata to expand market opportunities for growers, farmers, and entrepreneurs from the Union Territory.
The event brought together over 50 growers, farmers, self-help groups, FPOs, and entrepreneurs from J&K, alongside more than 250 participants from West Bengal and neighbouring states, including major traders, exporters, and processors. The gathering also saw the participation of industry bodies such as the Kolkata Fruit Association, Confederation of West Bengal Traders Association (CWBTA), Federation of All India Vyapar Mandal, and several private companies.
Platform for direct engagement
Director Horticulture (P&M), Ghulam Jeelani Zargar, said such events provide growers and buyers a direct platform to showcase products and understand market requirements. He highlighted the department’s recent efforts in developing cold storage, grading and packing lines, reefer vans, and branding centres to strengthen J&K’s horticulture sector.
“The meet is deliberately planned at the beginning of Durga Puja, which offers immense opportunities for trade expansion in West Bengal and beyond,” Zargar added.
Industry response
Leaders from trade associations welcomed the initiative. Mohammad Sorabh, President of Kolkata Fruit Association, stressed the need for more cold storage facilities in Kashmir to facilitate year-round trade. Suishil Poddar, President of CWBTA, called for the establishment of dedicated trade hubs for fresh and dry fruits.
Chief Guest Javid Ahmad Dar, J&K’s Minister for Agriculture, Horticulture, Rural Development, Panchayati Raj, Cooperatives and Elections, praised the initiative as a step toward transforming business opportunities for growers. He noted that the government’s holistic agriculture development programme had significantly advanced production, storage, transportation, and post-harvest management in the last two years.
Dar also highlighted J&K’s rapid progress in inter-state e-NAM trade and urged stakeholders to focus on processing to increase returns. “These interactions help us identify both strengths and weaknesses and create a better business environment for our growers,” he said.
Buyer-seller interactions
The event concluded with an interactive session where participants discussed business promotion strategies and challenges in the horticulture trade.
Senior officials including Deep Raj, Special Secretary Agriculture Production Department J&K, Farooq Ahmad Dar, MD JKHPMC, and representatives from APEDA and NHB West Bengal were also present.
