Jammu: Minister for Agriculture Production, Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, Cooperative and Election Department Javid Ahmad Dar on Wednesday inaugurated a fruit and vegetable aggregation, processing, grading and packing unit at Marh in Jammu district.
The ₹3.5 crore facility has been established to strengthen post-harvest infrastructure and improve marketing opportunities for farmers in the region. MLA Marh Surinder Kumar Bhagat, Managing Director JKHPMC Mohammad Farooq Dar, and senior officials from agriculture and allied departments were present on the occasion.
Addressing the gathering, the Minister said the unit will help enhance processing capacity, reduce post-harvest losses and improve returns for farmers. He said the facility will add around 100 metric tonnes of storage capacity and enable better grading, packing and value addition of produce.
Highlighting the importance of the project, Dar said Marh is a key vegetable-producing area in Jammu and plays a significant role in supplying produce across the region, making such infrastructure crucial for the farming community.
He reiterated the government’s commitment to farmers’ welfare, stating that efforts are being made to ensure the availability of quality seeds and fertilisers. He added that improved varieties of vegetable seeds and fruit plants are being provided through departmental channels.
The Minister also said that Centres of Excellence have been set up across districts to provide quality planting material and technical support to farmers. He directed officials to work proactively to address farmers’ concerns and increase awareness about government welfare schemes.
Speaking on the occasion, MLA Surinder Kumar Bhagat termed the facility a major step towards strengthening the local agricultural economy.
Earlier, Managing Director JKHPMC Mohammad Farooq Dar said the unit will help increase farmers’ income and extend the shelf life of perishable produce by two to three times through advanced pre-cooling and storage facilities.