Rajan Gandhi
Recent unprecedented early snowfall in November itself has once again exposed the hollow claims of development, upliftment , rights of common people of Kashmir in particular as once again there was least preparedness for natural calamity as administration was caught off guard with the result there was no policy in place to safeguard the interests of orchardists . We have not learnt any lessons from the past be it unprecedented earlier snowfalls or floods of 2014. Our administration has time and again proved that we are a state with zero responsibility, least accountability and no planning. While top to bottom of administration was busy in merits and demerits of Health Insurance cover of Government employees whose interests are always safeguarded but nobody thought of any plan or policy for the fruit growers with the result the largest revenue generators of the state are in a state of shock and distress.
It is interesting to point out that horticulture sector plays an important role in the state and contributes significantly to the state economy to the tune of 6000 crores annually. Our state is predominantly agricultural and more than70 percent of the total population still lives in rural area whose main occupation and means of livelihood is agriculture. It contributes nearly 60 percent of the State revenue which adequately explains the over dependence of the state on agriculture. An important part of agriculture is horticulture, which is an old economic activity in the state of Jammu and Kashmir. Kashmiri historian Kalhan mentioned fruit culture of Kashmir in his famous book ‘Rajtarangini’ during the reign of King Nora as back as 1000 B.C. It was however; during the period of Lalitaditya (900AD) that horticulture in the State received considerable patronage. But it is significant to note here that the great ruler of Kashmir Budd Shah and Mughal Emperors introduced new varieties of fruits in Kashmir by importing the same from Kabul and Persia. Encouraged with the thriving nature of the industry, the Government thought it fit to have a separate department which could be entrusted with the development of horticulture industry in the economy of the State. Thus, in 1962, Horticulture Department came into existence. Following the establishment of this department, a major programme known as Integrated Horticulture Project was launched in the year 1978 in collaboration with the World Bank. The total cost of the project was 27.6 million dollars (Rs. 24.22 crores), out of which World Bank’s share was Rs. 14 crores and the balance was to be met from financial institutions, like Agriculture Refinance Development Corporation and Industrial Development Bank of India. Accordingly a number of developmental schemes were introduced for the growth of horticulture with the inception of five year plans. Department of Horticulture Planning and Marketing has been given the responsibility of accomplishing the objectives to organize the orchardists in the Cooperative Marketing and Processing Societies to introduce standardization in the fruit trade, to assist the growers in getting problems relating to packing and transport solved and to collect, compile, analyze and dissemination market intelligence. The developmental schemes were reoriented during 1972-73 so as to develop orchards on five broad lines namely production and distribution of quality plant material, extending the area under fruit cultivation, increasing the productivity of existing orchard areas, research education and protecting plants against ravages of pests and diseases. Departmental orchards and nurseries for production of quality material, registration of private horticulture plant nurseries, establishment of horticulture information service/centre, intensification of research on varietal trials in apples, survey of agro-climatic regions for cultivation of different kinds of varieties of horticulture products and trainings were other timely initiatives which increased horticulture area from 0.12 lakh hectares in the year 1953-54 to 2.02 lakh hectares during the year 1996-97to 3.38 lakh hectares in 2016-17. This certainly has its effects in the economy in terms of income creation and employment generation. Fact is the fruit production which was 0.15 lakh tonnes before independence, could increase only to 0.24 lakh tonnes upto the end of 3rd plan (1965-66) which means an average yearly increase of 0.006 percent. It is only after 1970 that the Government has been giving its undivided attention to accelerate the horticultural production in the State. Horticulture production which was 5.63 lakh metric tonnes in 1980-81 got increased to 7.47 lakh metric tones in 1988-89, an increase of 32.68 percent. The same touched a figure of 9.34 lakh metric tonnes in 1993-94. As per economic survey report 2017, the production of fruits has increased from 16.36 lakh metric tonnes in 2007-08 to 22.35 lakh meteric tonnes in 2016-17, thus an increase of 5.99 lakh metric tonnes. At present about 8.12 percent of the population in the state of Jammu and Kashmir is directly and indirectly linked with horticulture sector. In fact this sector directly provides full time, part time and seasonal employment to about 7.02 lakh persons. If its dependent sectors like transport, forest, insurance, banking etc. are also considered then this sector provides livelihood to more than 26 lakh of people in and outside the State. In terms of yielding foreign exchange to the State exchequer, the horticulture dry fruits of Jammu and Kashmir State contribute a sufficient percentage. It would be important to note here that the State of Jammu and Kashmir is exporting horticulture products to more many countries which include Canada, Australia, UAE, New Zealand, Syria, United Kingdom, United States of America, Japan, Germany, Pakistan, Switzerland and Kuwait among others.
Thus, the horticulture department put no nerve unstained in getting small and marginal orchardists under co-operative fold. The number of such societies was only two at the time of establishment of Horticulture (Planning & Marketing) Department which has now gone up to more than 300. The non-availability of timely and adequate credit facilities has been one of the main constraints hampering strengthening of co-operative and their functioning. There is a great set back in satisfying the growers in getting them to the co-operative fold due to non-availability of finance. The financial institutions mainly commercial banks do not provide credit as recommended to them by the Department to the Fruit Growers Co-operative Marketing Societies as a result of which the members of the co-operative sector have felt handicapped and in most cases even the recently organized and registered societies have gone defunct and fallen prey to the money-lenders, middlemen and commission agents.
J&K State has been declared as Agri Export Zone for Apples and Walnut. The total production of fresh fruits in the state in the year 2016-17 is 19,59,351 metric tonnes and that of dry fruits is 2,75,629 metric tonnes. In a positive development the backbone of Jammu and Kashmir’s economy – horticulture – has witnessed 36 percent growth in terms of production in a last decade. The Jammu and Kashmir Horticulture Produce Marketing & Processing Corporation Private Limited was established to promote production, packing & grading, processing and marketing of fruits and its related products. The Corporation is presently going through tough times with even plans to merge with parental department itself. With 3 food parks, 10 industrial estates, 6 cold storages , 2 agri export zones and dry port suggested government is trying but despite the best efforts there are still grey areas which have to be plugged. Though approved by Mehbooba Mufti cabinet for insurance of the orchards nothing on ground has been done and it is one of the dreams shown to orchardists never to be fulfilled. During recent snowfall since leave falls of the apple trees was not complete resulting accumulation of snow on leaves thereby increase in weight of branches which ultimately led to broken trees under weight of snow. All this means not only loss of crop this year but for coming years as well as apple trees take considerable time to produce the yield. There is no planned survey of orchards with digital record of type, age, quantity and quality of trees in orchards by which compensation can be fixed instantly. This has been achieved by our neighboring state of Himachal with the help of Y.S Parmar University.
Though Horticulture University has been announced for Kashmir but it is too late. Proper guidance to repair damaged trees should be provided to the orchardists immediately and even local Doordarshan Kendra can play an important role with relevant documentaries for orchardists. Compensation is always marginal as compared to actual losses as such immediate interest free loans should be provided to orchardists. Another major area of concern is transportation as Kashmir highway along with Mughal road is playing hide and seek throughout the season with no respite and woes are further complicated by frequent highway jams when opened and as such with night landing facilities available with Srinagar airport government should seriously think upon airlifting the yield at subsidized fare with special focus on more cold storages as any long delay in carrying the fruits means degradation and less profit. Direct transfer of immediate relief should be provided along with new plants free of cost.
Last but not the least plan for future disasters; don’t make main revenue generators of our state as sitting ducks who have to suffer time and again with every natural calamity be it floods or snowfall or highway blockade. “A stitch in time saves nine” to express in detail, it’s better to spend a little time and effort to deal with a problem right now than to wait until later, when it may get worse and take longer to deal with. Options are there and it is just application of resources at right place and time.
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