J&K Budget 2025-26 lays platform to boost horticulture economy: JKPICCA

Srinagar, Mar 9: The Jammu and Kashmir Fruits and Vegetables Processing and Integrated Cold Chain Association (JKPICCA) has praised the 2025-26 budget for its "holistic approach" to horticulture development, calling it a forward-looking initiative that equally addresses pre-harvest and post-harvest challenges.

In a statement released today, JKPICCA highlighted that the strategic budget allocations are expected to "boost the horticultural economy, generate employment, and enhance farmers' incomes" across the Union Territory.

"This represents a landmark step for our agricultural sector," said a JKPICCA spokesperson. "The balanced focus on both production and storage infrastructure demonstrates a comprehensive understanding of our farmers' needs."

The budget includes provisions for high-density plantation promotion and establishes six new Controlled Atmosphere (CA) storage facilities with a combined capacity of 30,000 metric tons. Officials have outlined an ambitious five-year plan to reach 600,000 metric tons of CA storage capacity, which industry experts say will significantly reduce post-harvest losses.

Climate resilience features prominently in the budget, with dedicated funding for climate-smart farming practices. A Rs 50 crore allocation for crop insurance aims to protect farmers from financial losses due to extreme weather events, increasingly important as climate patterns become more unpredictable.

Irrigation improvements received substantial attention, with plans to expand canal networks and improve farm-level water management systems. "Water security is food security," noted the JKPICCA statement, "and these investments will directly translate to higher yields and more efficient land use."