Srinagar: Agriculture Minister Javid Ahmad Dar on Wednesday called for modernising Jammu and Kashmir’s apple industry through precision horticulture, smart farming, improved post-harvest management and stronger market linkages to increase growers’ income and expand access to domestic and international markets.
Addressing the sixth edition of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) J&K Apple Conclave 2026 at Radisson Collection in Srinagar, Dar stressed the need to adopt scientific cultivation practices and modern orchard management techniques to improve productivity, ensure consistent quality and make apple farming more sustainable.
The conclave, themed “From Orchard to Global Market”, brought together stakeholders to discuss ways to modernise the sector and strengthen its competitiveness in international markets.
Dar said the transformation of the apple economy required a coordinated approach covering orchard modernisation, scientific cultivation, efficient post-harvest management, value addition and improved marketing infrastructure.
He called for greater collaboration among government departments, industry representatives, agricultural scientists and growers to address existing challenges and ensure that emerging opportunities translated into tangible benefits for the farming community.
The minister also stressed the need to shift from traditional cultivation practices towards market-oriented horticulture to meet changing consumer preferences and international quality standards.
He said improvements in grading, packaging, storage and supply-chain management could help reduce post-harvest losses, preserve produce quality and enable growers to secure better returns.
Dar emphasised that innovation, sustainability and technology adoption across the apple value chain would be important for improving competitiveness and opening new markets. He also called for closer coordination between the government, industry and research institutions to support the sector’s long-term growth.
Appreciating the CII J&K for organising the conclave, the minister said such platforms could promote knowledge exchange, encourage investment and help stakeholders develop practical solutions for the industry.
Vice-Chancellor of Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir (SKUAST-K), Professor Nazir Ahmad Ganai, attended the conclave as guest of honour. Senior officials from the Agriculture and Horticulture departments and CII representatives were also present.