Fruit Mandi Bandipora
Fruit & Vegetable Market, Patushay
Fruit Mandi Bandipora | |
|---|---|
Agricultural marketplace | |
Fruit & Vegetable Market, Patushay Fruit & Vegetable Market, Patushay | |
| Coordinates: 34°24′59″N 74°35′25″E / 34.4164°N 74.59024°E | |
| Country | India |
| Union territory | Jammu and Kashmir |
| District | Bandipora |
| Tehsil | Bandipora |
| Established | Under development (since 2023) |
| Postal code | 193502 |
| Operator | Horticulture Department, Government of Jammu & Kashmir |
| Address | KP Road, Qazipora Patushi, Bandipora, Jammu and Kashmir, 193502 |
The Fruit & Vegetable Market, Patushay, also known as the Fruit Mandi Bandipora, is a horticultural trade facility under construction in Qazipora Patushi, Bandipora district, Jammu and Kashmir, India. It is being developed as a state-of-the-art agricultural marketplace by the Horticulture Department in collaboration with the Public Works Department, with the aim of centralizing the marketing and distribution of fresh produce from northern Kashmir.[1][2]
Location
The market is situated at 34°24′59″N 74°35′25″E / 34.4164°N 74.59024°E on the KP Road in the locality of Patushay, part of the larger village of Qazipora Patushi in Bandipora district. The site lies approximately 5 km from Bandipora town, providing connectivity to apple-producing areas of north Kashmir and access to the Srinagar–Leh Highway.[3]
Background
Bandipora district is one of the major apple-producing regions in Jammu and Kashmir, contributing significantly to the Union Territory’s horticulture economy. However, prior to this initiative, local farmers largely relied on distant mandis such as the Sopore Fruit Market for large-scale trading. The new mandi at Patushay was proposed to reduce transportation costs, enhance farm-gate prices, and provide local employment opportunities.[4]
Administrative oversight
The project is being implemented by the Horticulture Department, Jammu and Kashmir, while construction work has been assigned to the Public Works Department (R&B). The market is expected to be jointly managed by horticulture officials, growers’ associations, and cooperative societies after completion.[5]
Development history
The mandi was announced in 2022 under the Holistic Agriculture Development Programme (HADP), a multi-sectoral initiative aimed at improving agricultural marketing infrastructure in Jammu and Kashmir.[6]
2023 Tender (Horticulture Department)
- **Project Title:** Strengthening Agricultural Marketing—Development of Fruit and Vegetable Market at Potushay, Bandipora
- **Budget:** ₹92.5 million (approx. US$1.1 million)
- **Duration:** 730 days (2 years)
- **Scope:** Development of auction platforms, storage facilities, grading lines, and traders’ stalls.[7]
2024 Tender (Public Works Department)
- **Project Title:** Development of Fruit and Vegetable Market at Potushay, Bandipora[8]
- **Budget:** ₹48.235 million (approx. US$580,000)
- **Duration:** 540 days (1.5 years)
- **Scope:** Road connectivity, drainage, water supply, and utilities.
A corrigendum in mid-2024 reaffirmed the ₹92.5 million outlay and confirmed phased construction under the Public Works Department.
Features and infrastructure
According to tender documents and project reports, the mandi will feature:[9][10]
- Auction platforms for wholesale trading.
- Cold storage and Controlled Atmosphere (CA) units.
- Grading and packaging facilities.
- Traders’ stalls and loading bays.
- Parking space for trucks and mini-load carriers.
- Office and administrative buildings.
Expected impact
The mandi is expected to serve as a hub for more than 15,000 apple growers in Bandipora and adjoining districts, providing local marketing opportunities. Officials project that it will reduce post-harvest losses, increase farm incomes, and improve export potential of Kashmiri apples to national and international markets.[11]
See also
- Sopore Fruit Market
- Horticulture in Jammu and Kashmir
- Agriculture in India
References
- ^ "Fruit mandi to come up at Bandipora soon". Rising Kashmir. 5 October 2022. Retrieved 27 August 2025.
- ^ Rafiyah, Syeda (27 December 2023). "Govt to establish state-of-the-art fruit mandi in B'pora". Rising Kashmir. Retrieved 27 August 2025.
- ^ "Bandipora to get new fruit mandi to boost horticulture sector". Greater Kashmir. 6 October 2022. Retrieved 27 August 2025.
- ^ Holistic Agriculture Development Programme (HADP) (Report). Government of Jammu & Kashmir. 2023. Archived from the original on 6 May 2023. Retrieved 27 August 2025.
- ^ "Govt approves major horticulture projects under HADP". Daily Excelsior. 4 January 2024. Retrieved 27 August 2025.
- ^ "Fruit mandi to come up at Bandipora soon". Rising Kashmir. 5 October 2022. Retrieved 27 August 2025.
- ^ "Tender Notices". Department of Horticulture, J&K. Retrieved 27 August 2025.
- ^ "Development of Fruit and Vegetable Market at Potushay, Bandipora". TendersOnTime. Retrieved 27 August 2025.
- ^ "Development of Fruit and Vegetable Market at Potushay, Bandipora". TendersOnTime. Retrieved 27 August 2025.
- ^ Holistic Agriculture Development Programme (Report). Government of Jammu and Kashmir. 2023. Archived from the original on 6 May 2023. Retrieved 27 August 2025.
- ^ "Bandipora farmers welcome upcoming fruit mandi project". Greater Kashmir. 14 January 2024. Retrieved 27 August 2025.