<span style="color: black;">As part of Central Government's public outreach programme, Union Minister for Food Processing Industries Pashupati Kumar Paras on Sunday visited Pattan area of Baramulla district in Jammu & Kashmir. The Minister interacted with fruit growers there and carried out several other socio-economic developmental activities. He also interacted with some progressive fruit growers of the area during which they shared their feedback and farming experiences with the minister.</span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: black;">On the occasion, the Minister urged the fruit growers to adopt latest and scientific methodologies in their fields and said that such interventions have the ability to leverage the production as well as productivity. He said that food processing sector has immense potential and there is a need for value addition of horticultural products so as to yield better and enhanced dividends. Moreover, he reiterated that the Union Government is committed to ensure the welfare of farmers besides doubling their income. The fruit growers also raised some vital issues and demands which include establishment of cold storage facility, continuation of Market Intervention Scheme (MIS), hassle free movement of vehicles on national highways that are carrying fruits to different markets among other grievances of vital public significance.</span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: black;">The Minister assured that all the genuine grievances shall be taken with the concerned authorities for their timely redressal. He said that the current outreach programme aims to listen to the public's demands at grass root level so that a common man avail benefits of different welfare schemes and programmes.</span>