Mir
assured the fruit growers and dealers that the state
government would pool in all its resources for promoting
Horticulture Industry on modern lines.
He
said the Fruit Industry is the backbone of the state’s
economy which has given sustenance to the people during
worstever and odd periods, including decade-long turmoil
in the state.
Mir
said the government would explore all possibilities to
exempt VAT on pesticides and fungicides on the analogy
of neighboring states of Haryana and Punjab.
He
said testing laboratories in each district, preferably
within the vicinity of respective fruit mandies, would
be established under the Technology Mission Programme.
He
said about 10 lakh CBC would be procured shortly, to be
supplied to fruit growers and traders on subsidised
rates for promoting packaging and grading of the fruit,
imperative to withstand stiff market competition in the
World market.
The
Minister informed the fruit growers and traders that
government have decided to import newer varieties of
fruit plants from most developed countries of the world
including America and Italy.
This
step would provide much-needed relief to the farming
community, he added. He said imported plants would be
popularised among the farmers by establishing
demonstration plot in various areas of the State.
So
