Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Nov 16: Apple Growers & Dealers Union Baramulla and J&K Kissan Sabha while expressing concern over the shortage of fertilizers being faced by the farmers and orchardists in the Valley, due to the present system of the transporting through railway out agency demanded that the Fertilizer companies may also be allowed to transport the fertilizer from Udhampur Railway rake point to Valley.
The demand was made by the president of the Apple Growers and Dealers Union Baramulla, Mohammed Yousf Dar and chairman J&K Kissan Sabha, Haji Ghulam Mohammed Dar at a joint press conference here, today.
They said this will ensure the sufficient and timely availability of the Fertilizers in the Valley and save farmers and fruit growers who have been put to heavy loss due to lack of timely use of fertilizers in their fields.
Click here to Watch Video
They said that after implementation of GST the tree spray oil has been brought under the slab of 18 percent GST rate as a petroleum product. This being actually an agriculture product be put at five percent GST rate for benefit of the farmers. Besides, the GST be removed on pesticides, fungicides and walnut crop, they added.
They also demanded waiving off of bad loans, KCC loans of the fruit growers and farmers, J&K be declared as a Horticulture State, high density plantation schemes be extended to the all regions of the Valley, crop insurance scheme for the horticulture and agriculture be implemented as promised by the State Government, apple juice processing centres be established at each fruit mandi and district level, cold storage/CA storage facilities be provided at all fruit mandies and district level, 50 percent funds be allotted to the Rural Development Department (RDD) for the development of Horticulture Sector and Ceiling on interest beyond 100 percent of the principal amount be ordered immediately.
They said a joint delegation of the two organizations led by Mohammed Yousf Dar , president, KAG Union and Haji Ghulam Mohammed Dar, chairman J&K Kissan Sabha met the Minister of Horticulture, Basharat Bukhari here and apprised him of these problems. They said the delegation complimented the Minister for keeping Jawahar Tunnel open for 24 hours so that the trucks carrying apple may not face problem. This has kept fare charges stable during the peak season, they added.
They also appealed the Minister that the other problems of both farmers and fruit growers be redressed on priority basis.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
