Budgam orchardist acquires commercial apple washing & grading machine

BUDGAM — A fruit grower in central Kashmir’s Budgam district purchased and installed the valley’s first-ever Apple Washing, Shining & Grading machine on Thursday.

The initiative was taken by Mohammad Akbar, a progressive and skilled orchardist from Choon area in Budgam.

To compete in the global market, Akbar feels that all Valley farmers should focus on new technology and novel agricultural concepts.

He said that his machine is not for his personal use only, but growers can approach him for grading their produce as well at very reasonable cost.

Among many advantages, the Apple Washing, Shining & Grading Machine supplied by Kaizen Agro Solution cleans apples, sorts these based on their size and assists in obtaining better market prices.

It is in place to mention here that Aijaz Ahmad Bhat, Director General of J-K’s Horticulture Department, inaugurated the grading machine in presence of other officials of the department and local orchardists.

“Apple producers are progressively adopting contemporary practises,” Aijaz Bhat said, adding that there was need to speed up the process so that more and more orchardists take advantage of government subsidies and other assistance.

The Director General said that growers can acquire modern equipment like grading machines and approach the department for subsidies. “The Horticulture Department is at the disposal of all growers for all the assistance under its domain,” he remarked.

On the sidelines of the event, Sanjay Bhatnagar, who is the founder and Managing Director of Kaizen Agro Solution, said that more and more growers were now embracing new technologies and methods to sell their quality produce at lucrative prices.

“It is a moment of pride that our company is playing a pivotal role in reaching out to orchardists in the remotest parts of the valley and inform them about the advantages of a grading machine,” Mr Bhatnagar said.

He further stated that Kaizen Agro Solution has been able to motivate the growers and a lot a grading machines are already installed in southern Kashmir’s four districts and north Kashmir Sopore as well.