Srinagar: Jammu & Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik rolled out Special Market Intervention Price Scheme (MISP) of Government of India (GoI) which will exclusively cover procurement of nearly 12 Lakh Metric Tonnes (MTs) of Apple produce this season from the Apple growers of Kashmir Division on remunerative prices.
The launch function was organized at Directorate of Horticulture in Srinagar that was attended by top officials of the State Administration.
Speaking at the occasion, Governor Malik said the Central Government formulated the Scheme within a week keeping in view the importance of economic interests of apple growers of the Valley.
He said the Scheme is going to be historical in Jammu & Kashmir as nearly 60% of the estimated annual Apple production, which last year stood at 20 Lakh MTs, will be procured from the Apple growers near their doorsteps.
Governor said the scheme is expected to enhance the income of the apple growers in Kashmir Valley by about Rs 2,000 crore.
Pertinently, the period of procurement would be from 1st September to 1st March next year that is six months. The fund requirement for the scheme has been estimated as Rs 8,000 crore.
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Under the scheme, the Department of Agriculture and Cooperation, Government of India and the National Agriculture Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (NAFED) will procure Apple in J&K from the growers and aggregators so as to ensure remunerative prices for the Apple.
While the nodal procurement agency from Government of India will be NAFED, the Nodal procurement agency from Government of Jammu and Kashmir will be the Directorate of Horticulture, Planning and Marketing, supported by the Directorate of Horticulture and the JKHPMC.
The Apple will be procured from the growers and aggregators at Fruit Mandis situated in Sopore (Baramulla), Parimpora (Srinagar), Shopian and Batengo (Anantnag). The necessary facilities and infrastructure are being created at these Mandis for smooth operationalization of the scheme.
The Government will constitute a Price Fixation Committee for fixing the price of Apple based on its variety and grade. It will fix the procurement price for A, B and C grade apple and other incidental charges like packaging, transportation, storage and related expenditure.
In addition, the Quality Control cum Grading Committees will be constituted for each Mandi for validation cum certification of the Apple to be procured at the Mandis. The Committee will assess the quality of the Apple based on ocular, scientific and/or any other available means.
Officials said that after finalization of all the requisite procurement process, the payment of the Apple consignments shall be made directly into the Bank Accounts of the growers within a period of 48 hours.
The Administration is taking steps to bolster the arrangements at the four Mandis to ensure that the scheme is rolled out smoothly without encumbrances.
