J&K likely to set up horticulture university

The government was also contemplating setting up Centre of Excellence in horticulture for north and south Kashmir, Horticulture Minister Abdul Rehman Veeri said. 

Veeri, who chaired a high-level meeting of officials here on Tuesday, said was looking at the possibility since horticulture is among the most viable sectors of the state economy and has the potential to bring huge wealth to Jammu and Kashmir, he added.

Veeri advised stakeholders and officials to adopt an innovative approach to increase production in order to meet the demand. “This is a huge department which contributes massively to the state’s economy, however it lacks on many fronts, that needs to be changed”, Veeri told the officials. Pointing out that some areas lacked on the infrastructure front despite release of funds, he said a comprehensive plan to boost the sector was the need of the hour.

He urged them to incorporate the proposals in Prime Minister’s Comprehensive Package, which would include revamping of district headquarter offices of horticulture department, mobility plan of chief Horticulture officials, revamping of infrastructure at all levels and some innovative schemes for growers and farmers.