Overview

• At Talab Tillo, the chief minister commissioned a 5,145-MT cold storage built with NABARD support, featuring 21 cold chambers, four scientific ripening chambers with automated controls and solar-powered backup.
• At Narwal Fruit Mandi, four post-harvest and value-addition units began operations, including a 2,000-MT cold store for apples, cherries, grapes and walnuts, a PM-FME incubation centre, a 120-MT integrated pack house and a display and processing centre for agri-horti tools.
• The units are expected to cut perishable spoilage, improve price realisation and create jobs in logistics, processing and maintenance across Jammu, Samba, Kathua, Udhampur, Rajouri and Poonch.
• A CM-appointed sub-committee will tackle lease expiries and marketing challenges for fruit agents to streamline mandi operations.
• Rising enrolments at SKUAST-Jammu highlight growing youth and women participation in agriculture under inclusive regional development efforts.