Handwara, Sep 19: Agriculture Production Minister Javid Ahmad Dar Saturday said the Horticulture Department and SKUAST-Kashmir scientists were working on measures to control leaf miner disease affecting horticultural crops.
Dar said the department became aware of the disease about two months ago and had since been taking remedial measures.
“The department became aware of the disease around two months ago and has since been working on remedial measures. Basically, it is an insect from outside and we are trying to control it,” Dar told reporters on the sidelines of a function at Fruit MandiHandwara.
He said the disease could not be completely eliminated but timely measures, including the use of pesticides, could help control it.
On a proposal to establish a cold storage facility in Handwara, Dar said the government would consider it if suitable land was available in Handwara or its outskirts.
He also urged people, particularly youth, to take advantage of various schemes implemented by the Horticulture Department to generate livelihoods.
Dar earlier interacted with fruit growers, traders and representatives of the horticulture sector. A delegation led by Fruit MandiHandwara president Mohammad Amin raised issues related to infrastructure and facilities for growers and traders.
The minister assured the stakeholders that their demands would be examined, with some issues taken up during the current year and others considered next year.
Dar was accompanied by Rajya Sabha MP Choudhary Mohammad Ramzan and Langate MLA Sheikh Khursheed. Senior officers from the Agriculture and Horticulture departments were also present.
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