Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Nov 19: Kashmir’s apple growers and traders are still awaiting a Government compensation package for the heavy losses suffered earlier this year.
In this regard, the Kashmir Valley Fruit Growers Cum Dealers Union has expressed concern over the Government’s failure to roll out a comprehensive relief package despite the sector suffering estimated losses of nearly Rs 2,000 crore in the August deluge.
According to the Union, the August floods, coupled with the closure of the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway for over 20 days, caused severe damage as thousands of fruit-laden trucks were stranded during the peak harvest season.
Stakeholders urged the Government to immediately announce a compensation package to provide much-needed relief.
Growers and dealers said the crisis crippled Kashmir’s apple economy, with prices crashing and consignments rotting in orchards and mandis.
Farmers, as per the Union, were forced to sell produce at throwaway rates, while repeated highway blockades caused stocks to pile up.
The demand was reiterated during a meeting of the Union at Fruit Mandi, Apple Town, Sopore, chaired by KVFG Union chairman Bashir Ahmad Basheer and attended by presidents and general secretaries of fruit growers’ associations from across the Valley.
The Union urged the Lieutenant Governor and the Chief Minister of J&K to consider several urgent measures, including announcing a comprehensive compensation package, implementing a crop insurance scheme for the horticulture sector, and reintroducing the Market Intervention Scheme.
It also demanded that the Mughal Road be declared a national highway and that alternative routes for fruit transportation be developed.
The Union sought a waiver of KCC loans for severely affected farmers and exemption of interest on loans taken by orchardists from J&K Bank.
It further called for an end to municipal chungi on fruit transportation and the establishment of 200-300 additional CA and cold stores in North and Central Kashmir to prevent future losses.
The Union announced that the standard size for packing cardboard boxes (bardanna) has been fixed at 21 × 14 × 7.5 inches and directed all growers, traders and buyers to adhere to the specification.
It urged horticulture authorities to issue advisories to ensure uniform implementation.
Other key demands include ensuring the availability of quality pesticides and fertilizers with clearly marked MRPs, strict monitoring against the use of colouring chemicals and PGRs, and stern action against violators.
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