At the 32nd Council meeting of SKUAST-K, at the Raj Bhavan in India the Railways Ministry has assured help in providing better transport facilities for faster movement of the apple crop produced in the Valley to different parts of the country.

An official spokesman told the meeting chaired by Governor N N Vohra, Chancellor S K University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir (SKUAST-K) was attended by Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, pro chancellor of the university.

The Chancellor and Pro Chancellor urged Minister for Horticulture the importance of time bound action being taken to develop controlled atmosphere stores and cold storage units within and outside the state to enable fruit growers and farmers to get better returns on their produce.

Pro Chancellor informed that the Railways Ministry has assured help in providing better transport facilities for timely movement of the apple crop produced in the Valley. The governor emphasised the vital need for the State Government to establish a marketing strategy for all items produced in the State, to incentivise higher production.

The Chancellor also stressed the need for early formulation of a well considered Horticulture Policy, effective pesticide control measures, and adoption of best managerial practices for agriculture and its allied fields. In this context he pointed to the need for strengthening the Faculty of Horticulture of SKUAST-K and advised against any hurried decision to set up a University of Horticulture.

Referring to the rapid pace at which good agricultural land was being converted to other uses, the Chancellor advised the urgent formulation of a law for regulating the conversion of agricultural land for any other use.

Minister for Forest, Ecology & Environment suggested introduction of procurement of produce by the State Government for safeguarding interests of the farmers and suggested that the Universities should bring out new varieties which enhance quality of the farm products besides merely increasing their production.