Javid Dar inaugurates modern processing cum training centre for fruits, vegetables
STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: Strengthening efforts to boost value addition and self-employment in the agriculture sector, Minister for Agriculture Production, Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, Cooperative and Election Department, Javid Ahmad Dar, on Thursday inaugurated a Modern Processing-cum-Training Centre for fruits and vegetables at Udheywala in Jammu.
The centre, established at a cost of Rs 90 lakh, aims to promote skill development, entrepreneurship and income generation among the farmers, rural youth and women, particularly members of Self-Help Groups (SHGs).
While addressing the gathering, the Minister said the government is committed towards empowering the farmers through modern technology, scientific training and value addition initiatives. He stressed the need for departments to identify high-potential sectors and expand skill-based training programmes to enhance productivity and ensure sustainable livelihoods.
“The focus must be on equipping the farmers and women with modern processing techniques and encouraging cultivation of improved and hybrid varieties of fruits and vegetables to increase returns,” he said.
The newly inaugurated facility will offer six-month and one-month certificate courses in fruit and vegetable preservation and processing. It will also organise mobile demonstrations and promote community-level processing units to extend technical knowledge to the farmers at the grassroots level.
On the occasion, Soil Health Cards were distributed among the beneficiaries to encourage balanced fertiliser use and scientific soil management practices.
The inauguration ceremony was held in the presence of Director Horticulture, Jammu Gul Syed, Director Rural Development Department, Shahnaz Akhter, Director Agriculture Jammu Anil Gupta, Joint Director Horticulture, Jammu, Salil Gupta, Deputy Director (Central), Mukesh Sharma, Chief Horticulture Officer, Jammu, R.K. Kotwal, CCI Sanjeev Kumar, MCC Jammu, Horticulture Information & Publicity officer Randhir Singh Parihar, NRO Satish Kumar, Shrestha Gour, DL-SMSs, HDOs, and other officers and officials of the Horticulture Department.
The programme concluded with a vote of thanks and a guided visit of the newly inaugurated facility by the dignitaries facilitated effectively by the Chief Canning Instructor Jammu Sanjeev Kumar Karlupia.
