The  fruit growers association of Kashmir on Friday met Chief Minister of J&K, Omar Abdullah in Jammu and demanded various steps for the upliftment of the horticulture sector.Fruits growers association demanded implementation of crop  insurance scheme and market intervention scheme.They said that the crop insurance scheme, though announced, has not been implemented so far.

“It is accordingly requested that the Budget Provision may kindly be considered in the Budget Estimates for the year 2025-26 for implementation of Crop Insurance Scheme for Horticulture Industry and necessary orders in this behalf issued as well so that the poor Fruit Growers of the Valley may have a sigh of relief particularly at the time of Natural Disaster.”

The fruit growers further added that more than 40% of Apple Crop during every fruit season is always found in the shape of “Grade C” and “Ghiran” (Fallen Apple) pushing the Fruit Growers of the Valley towards the loser side. “The Government of the time had once introduced a Market Intervention Scheme and the entire “Grade C” apple under this scheme was lifted by the Horticulture Department against the rates as fixed by the government.

The Valley based Fruit Growers benefited to some extent from the losses under this scheme.”“It is unfortunate that the scheme has been shelved for the last several years. It is accordingly requested that the Budget Provision may kindly be considered in the Budget Estimates for the year 2025-26 for re-introduction of Market Intervention Scheme in the interest of Fruit Growers of the Valley and Horticulture Industry in particular.”

They demanded that the provision of allotment of funds in the Budget Estimates for the year 2025-26 may kindly be considered for Establishment of Separate “Horticulture Estate” on the pattern of Industrial Estate of J&K (UT) and provision for allotment of funds provided in the Budget Estimates for the year 2025-26 so that CA-Stores/ Canning Factories, Juice Plants and other allied Factories could be Established with single window system facility for convenience of Valley based Fruit Growers Cum Dealers.“In order to facilitate the marginal Fruit Growers of the Valley necessary measures may kindly be taken up for setting up of CA-Stores in the valley on a society basis with the facility of a single window system and grant of subsidy,” they said.They said that the wooden patties were always used for transportation of fresh fruits from the Valley to various destinations of the Country.

“Since the paplur (Safaida) trees are now used by Veneers for manufacturing ply boards and rates of wooden patties have, therefore, risen.”“The Fruit Growers are not in a position to use the wooden patties as Bardana for transportation of fruits in view of higher price rates leaving second option of use of Cardboard Boxes in place of wooden patties.

12% GST is charged on Cardboard Boxes and insecticides, pesticides with the result production cost of fresh fruits raised to higher limit. In fact the number of small Growers are on a higher side who in view imposition of 12% GST on Cardboard Boxes are reluctant to use Cardboard Boxes for transportation of their Apple Crop from Valley to various destinations of the Country.

The KVFG Union therefore, request your goodself kindly consider exemption of GST on Cardboard Boxes and insecticides, pesticides and fertilizers or reduce the limit to minimum possible rates in the interest of Horticulture Industry,” they said.They said that the cost prices of pesticides and fertilizers are touching the sky from day by day. “The  Fruit Growers of the Valley incurring their entire savings exclusively on purchase of pesticides, fertilizers and insecticides. It is accordingly requested to kindly look into this issue and consider slashing down the cost prices of pesticides, fertilizers and insecticides in the Budget Estimate for the year 2025-2026,” they said.They demanded that the tree Spray oil may kindly be treated as Agriculture Product and Budget Provision for the same may kindly be provided in the Budget Estimates for the year 2025-2026.

“Since new technologies and latest insecticides and pesticides have been introduced now. It is, therefore, requested that the provision of allotment of funds may kindly be considered in the Budget Estimates for the year 2025-26 for establishment of testing labourites in all districts of the Valley with fitting up of latest machinery with sufficient manpower in all these testing laboratories so that Fruit Growers of the Valley could get appropriate results on testing to avoid any losses to their produce,” the  fruit growers demanded.

They further demanded the provision for availability of High Density Plant Material to Valley based Fruit Growers may kindly be considered in the Budget Estimates for the year 2025-26 so that the damaged orchards could be rejuvenated.“Provision for allotment of separate funds may kindly be considered in the Budget Estimates for the year 2025-26 for horticulture sector of J&K (UT) for utilization on occurrence of Natural Calamities,” they said.The Fruit Growers of the Valley in view of the situation like turmoil, devastating deluge of September 2014 followed by Covid- 19, Draught and untimely snow with heavy rains and stormy winds most of Fruit Growers had become defaulters. In this connection an NPA scheme had been enforced very recently in the interest of these defaulters but it is unfortunate it is not implemented so far which must be implemented, they said.

The K.C.C Loan had been raised by the poorest community amongst the Fruit Growers of the Valley and in view of the situation like turmoil, devastating deluge of September, 2014 followed by Covid-19, draught and untimely snow with heavy rains and strong winds these poorest Fruit Growers could not repay their K.C.C Loan raised by these poorest Growers may kindly be waived off, they demanded.“There is an acute dearth of produce of Kiwi, Grapes and Pomegranate in the J&K (UT).

In order to promote the Orchards of Kiwi, Grapes and Pomegranate it is requested that sufficient funds may be allotted in the Budget Estimate of 2025-26 for Development of Kiwi, Grapes and Pomegranate,” they said.“There is an acute dearth of irrigation facilities in most of the areas where Fruit Orchards existed. The KVFG Union are of the view that irrigation facilities may kindly be provided here and there for the facility of Fruit Growers of the valley.

The same are essentially required for producing quality fruits. It is accordingly requested to kindly have a provision for irrigation facilities in the Budget Estimates for the years 2025-26 in the interest of the Horticulture Industry of J&K (UT),” they said. Fruit growers association requested that all necessary arrangements may kindly be provided for transportation of Cherry Crop which is considered extremely delicious to Mumbai from Jammu/ Amritsar Rail Head.

They said that Chief Minister Omar Abdullah gave a patient hearing to the Delegation and assured that all the demands will be looked into.

Source - https://www.kashmirpatriot.com