Responding to the concerns, Minister Javid Ahmad Dar, who chaired the meeting, assured the delegation that all issues would be examined and addressed in a phased and time-bound manner.
The Kashmir Valley Fruit Growers-cum-Dealers Union (KVFGDU) on Saturday strongly pressed for urgent policy interventions to safeguard the horticulture sector, placing a comprehensive charter of demands before the government during a high-level meeting.
The delegation, led by its Chairman Bashir Ahmad Basheer and comprising presidents of fruit growers’ associations from across the Valley, highlighted a range of long-pending issues affecting growers and traders during a meeting with the Agriculture and Horticulture Minister, Javid Ahmad Dar.
Prominent among the demands was the implementation of a Crop Insurance Scheme for the horticulture sector on the analogy of the agriculture sector, which growers said is critical to protect them from recurring losses due to weather uncertainties and market fluctuations. The Union also sought the immediate reintroduction of the Market Intervention Scheme (MIS) to stabilise prices and prevent distress sales.
The delegation further demanded issuance of licenses in fruit and vegetable markets across J&K, regulation of controlled atmosphere (CA) cold storage units to curb what they described as unilateral practices, and execution as well as transfer of lease deeds for shop sites, along with allotment of shops and auction sheds in mandis.
In addition, the growers called for the constitution of a dedicated Horticulture Marketing Board and the establishment of a separate horticulture estate on the pattern of industrial estates in the Union Territory. They also stressed the need for the comprehensive development of fruit mandis across the Valley.
Speaking after the meeting, Chairman Bashir Ahmad Basheer said, *“The horticulture sector is the backbone of Kashmir’s economy, and it is imperative that growers are provided institutional safeguards like crop insurance and market support mechanisms. We have urged the government to take immediate steps to address these pressing issues so that growers do not continue to suffer losses year after year.”*
He added that regulating cold storage operations and ensuring proper infrastructure in mandis are equally crucial for streamlining the supply chain and ensuring fair returns to growers.
Responding to the concerns, Minister Javid Ahmad Dar, who chaired the meeting, assured the delegation that all issues would be examined and addressed in a phased and time-bound manner.
The Minister informed that the Crop Insurance Scheme is currently under active consideration of the government and is likely to be implemented within one to one-and-a-half months.
During the interaction, representatives from various districts also raised mandi-specific issues related to infrastructure gaps and developmental needs. The Minister assured that all such concerns would be looked into on priority.
The meeting concluded with a vote of thanks, with growers expressing cautious optimism that the assurances would translate into concrete action on the ground.
Source - https://www.greaterkashmir.com
