Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Feb 9: Senior vice-president of the Jammu and Kashmir People’s Conference and former Minister, Abdul Gani Vakil today expressed serious concern over what he described as a systematic undermining of Kashmir’s fruit industry due to recent policy decisions of the Central Government.
In a statement issued, Vakil said the recent apple trade agreement between India and the United States, under which imported American apples would attract only a nominal import duty, poses a serious threat to apple growers in Kashmir.
He warned that the move could lead to an influx of cheaper imported apples into the Indian market, severely affecting the competitiveness of Kashmiri produce and resulting in a significant loss of market share for local growers.
Describing the fruit industry as the backbone of Jammu and Kashmir’s economy, Vakil said any setback to the sector would have far-reaching consequences.
“The collapse of the fruit industry would push thousands of families into economic distress. Lakhs of people are directly and indirectly dependent on apple cultivation, grading, packaging, transportation and allied activities,” he said.
Appealing to the Prime Minister of India, Vakil urged the Centre to take immediate steps to protect the interests of Kashmiri apple growers.
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