Jammu, Feb 26:  Strengthening efforts to boost value addition and self-employment in the agriculture sector, Minister for Agriculture Production, Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, Cooperative and Election Department, Javid Ahmad Dar, today inaugurated a Modern Processing-cum-Training Centre for fruits and vegetables at Udheywala in Jammu.

The centre, established at a cost of ₹90 lakh, aims to promote skill development, entrepreneurship and income generation among the farmers, rural youth and women, particularly members of Self-Help Groups (SHGs).

While addressing the gathering, the Minister said the government is committed towards empowering the farmers through modern technology, scientific training and value addition initiatives. He stressed the need for departments to identify high-potential sectors and expand skill-based training programmes to enhance productivity and ensure sustainable livelihoods.

“The focus must be on equipping the farmers and women with modern processing techniques and encouraging cultivation of improved and hybrid varieties of fruits and vegetables to increase returns,” he said.

The newly inaugurated facility will offer six-month and one-month certificate courses in fruit and vegetable preservation and processing. It will also organise mobile demonstrations and promote community-level processing units to extend technical knowledge to the farmers at the grassroots level.

On the occasion, Soil Health Cards were distributed among the beneficiaries to encourage balanced fertiliser use and scientific soil management practices.

Director Horticulture Jammu, Gul Syed, Director Agriculture Jammu Anil Gupta, Director Rural Development Department Jammu, Shehnaz Akhter and other senior officers were present at the event.