In a moment of triumph, Shopian’s prized apples, celebrated nationwide for their exquisite taste, have not only brought honor to the region but also secured the prestigious ‘One District One Product’ (ODOP) Award at the national level.
The Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Shopian, Faz Lul Haseeb, proudly accepted the award at the Aatmanirbhar Bharat Utsav 2024 event held in New Delhi by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
The event, graced by Union Minister of External Affairs, Dr. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, and Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, and Textiles, Piyush Goyal, as Chief Guest and Guest of Honour respectively, saw Shopian’s apples recognized as the focus product under the ODOP initiative.
Expressing gratitude, DC Shopian acknowledged the pivotal role played by the district team, particularly Dr. Shakil Bhat for coordinating the entire process, Chief Horticulture Officer (CHO) Shopian for providing accurate data, and the dedicated efforts of Malik Suhail and Jahid Azad. He also credited the NIC team led by Ishfaq for their contributions.
An official from the District Administration emphasized that this national-level achievement is a source of immense pride for the entire Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. He expressed deep appreciation for Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha’s consistent guidance and leadership.
In a noteworthy achievement, Jammu and Kashmir secured Gold in ‘Category B’ for States at the ODOP Awards 2023. The event garnered an overwhelming response, with 580 applications from 535 districts, 26 States/UTs, and even 19 Indian Missions Abroad.
