SRINAGAR, FEBRUARY 10 (KNS): JKHPMC has started the process of developing Shopian as an ‘Apple Cluster’, recently approved by Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (MoA&FW) at an estimated cost of Rs. 138 crores, under Cluster Development Programme (CDP).

The letter of acceptance this regard has been issued by the Ministry in favour of JKHPMC with M/s FIL Industries Limited, as the implementing Agency with technical support by National Horticulture Board’s (NHB).

In this regard, the NHB’s team from New Delhi were on  two-day visit to Srinagar and Shopian on 9th and 10th February, 2023 for finalizing the components to be set up by FIL Industries in the Apple Cluster, under the programme.

The team of HMB comprising Joint Director, NHB, R.K Agarwal; Dy. Director NHB (J&K Chapter), Sansar Ahmad and other officers held a joint meeting  with JKHPMC officers and  representatives of FIL industries  for finalizing the components.

The team alongwith officers of JKHPMC, during the visit, also visited Shopian  and called on Deputy Commissioner Shopian and apprised him about the land required for developing nurseries in the Shopian Cluster. During the interaction, DC Shopian expressed satisfaction over the programme and assured JKHPMC that the district would make available the required land banks for the optimum implementation of the programme.

The NHB team also visited FIL Industries facilities at Rangreth, Srinagar and assessed the requirements under the CDP.

Pertinently, the programme has to be executed with respect to three end to end verticals, viz; Pre-production & production, post production & value addition and logistics & marketing in a span of four years.(KNS)