Srinagar, October 23: Central procuring agency National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation Ltd (NAFED) will procure apple in Kashmir this year through the Department of Horticulture Kashmir and J&K Horticulture Planning and Marketing Department, the two designated agencies designated by the UT government.This follows extension of Market Intervention Scheme for apple procurement in Jammu and Kashmir for the current season on the same terms and conditions as of 2019-20, informed Director Horticulture Kashmir, Ajaz Ahmad Bhat while chairing a meeting here on Friday. The procurement will be done at Fruit and Vegetable Mandi Kulgam/Anantnag (Jablipora), Shopian (Arhama), Srinagar (Parimpora) and Sopore, he added.Pointing out that only boxed procurement will be made with three classification of 5, 10 and 15 kg boxes, he said that there shall be a price fixation committee for fixing the prices of various grades of apple of available varieties. The committee shall finalize the rates at least three days prior to the launch date of October 27, he said, adding the payment shall be made through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) into the Bank account of apple farmers.
