Srinagar: Assuring all possible help and assistance, the ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands (Holland), Alphonsus Stoelingaa said that the Government of Netherlands looks forward to collaborating with the Government and farmers of J&K in hi-tech Horticulture infrastructure development
To inspect demonstration projects of High Density Apple orchards established by Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST) Kashmir in collaboration with companies from Netherlands, the Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands (Holland), Alphonsus Stoelinga, inspected various projects.
The Ambassador was accompanied by Agriculture Counsellor, Wouter Verhey, Deputy Agriculture Counsellor, Anand Krishnan, Liaison PIB Fruits, Amit Parashar and Technical Director, Verbeek Nurseries Holland Arie van den Berg.
The projects have been established under International Business Programme of the Netherlands Government to showcase the advanced technology and high quality virus free Apple and other fruit plant materials offered by the Dutch companies.
Vice Chancellor SKUAST, Prof Nazeer Ahmed informed the Ambassador that Apple trees from Netherlands which were planted in April 2017 had produced quality fruit during current season.
The Ambassador visited two cold storage plants, Fruit Master Agro Fresh and H.N. Agri-Serve, using technology imported from Netherlands at Lassipora Pulwama,
Managing Director J&K Horticulture Produce Marketing and Processing Corporation (JKHPMC), Jawaid Ahmad Shah, briefed the Ambassador about the Horticulture scenario of the State and efforts of the Government in boosting horticulture trade of the State.
Shah briefed about the efforts of the Government to create Post Infrastructural Facilities across the State in the shape of Integrated Apple Grading and Packing facilities along with Cold Storage facilities for overall benefit of the Farming Community of the State to have better returns of their produce.
He sought the special intervention of the Ambassador in collaborating to adopt Netherlands technology for establishment of Cold Storage facilities in the State with their assistance and guidance.
