Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Nov 12: A delegation of the Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry lead by it’s president Sheikh Ashiq Ahmad visited Kulgam, Pulwama and Shopian for interacting with fruit growers/ stakeholders who have suffered losses due to last week’s snowfall and on the pot assessment of the damage.
The KCCI, as per it’s policy of reaching out to the vulnerable and agonized stakeholders belonging to the business community, decided to initiate interaction throughout the length and breadth of the State to assess the quantum of damage and to find ways and means of compensation of these losses. The delegation met representatives of various Fruit Associations and visited Fruit Mandi’s, orchards and interacted with traders and farmers.
On behalf of the Kashmir Chamber, Sheikh Ashiq assured the stakeholders that the KCCI would not rest till all possible support in the shape of relief, compensation and technical guidance is provided to the affected farmers to bring them out of the present catastrophe. He appreciated the prompt declaration of the snowfall as a “Special Natural Calamity” by the Governor’s administration and hoped that the assessment of losses would be finalized at the earliest.
The Kashmir Chamber chief regretted that the implementation of the Crop Insurance Scheme in Kashmir was delayed due to various reasons and the cost of this delay was unfortunately to be borne by our farmers. He stated that farmers all over the country were being provided protective cover of the Crop Insurance Scheme launched in February, 2016 and only our farmers stood deprived. Various suggestions were put forth by the stakeholders and it was decided that the KCCI would be organizing a meeting in this regard with all stakeholders for finalisation of points to be taken up with the State and Financial Institutions.
The status of farm loans taken under the Kissan Credit Card (KCC) was also discussed and it’s waiver would be taken up with the concerned authorities. Sheikh Ashiq assured them that all resources would be utilized for mitigating their sufferings. Farooq Amin, secretary general, also accompanied.
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