Fruit Particularly apple production in Kashmir valley this season has failed to cheer up growers as their produce was sold at lower rates than last year.

Faced with huge losses, apple farmers have now sought central government intervention.

As per reports Kashmir produces about 75 per cent of the total apple crop in the country and is considered the backbone of its economy. 

The frequent closure of the Srinagar-Jammu national highway due to landslides during the peak harvesting season and the stranding of fruit-laden trucks for days together have had its impact as growers were late to the mandis.

The rates of apple coming from Kashmir this season was down as compared to 2021, and there is no doubt the growers suffered a huge losses this year. It is very difficult for fruit growers to overcome the losses without central government support," said fruit growhers, while talking to Senior journalist Nazir Chaksari.

The other Fruit grower said that although there was a quality bumper crop this season, but the expenses like packaging and transportation charges have almost doubled compared to last year. The rates are directly linked to the supply and demand, and since the supply is more, the product rate is down," he said.

Many growers said the expenses on each apple box weighing 16 kg is over Rs 500, which includes packaging, freight charges and use of pesticides and fertilizers but "we are only getting an average of Rs 300 to 400 per box, they said.

As everyone knows that More than half of Kashmir's population is directly or indirectly linked to the horticulture industry so the UT as well as central government has to come forward and rescue us, otherwise it is very difficult to overcome the huge losses given the prevailing conditions," said a fruit grower.

The growers said the central government has to pay full attention to the horticulture industry in Jammu and Kashmir which has a lot of potential to generate employment across the country.

"It is our humanitarian and religious duty to safeguard them (growers) The government can provide subsidies on the products used in packaging, provide good quality cardboards, fix transportation charges and abolish tax on trucks transporting fruit. If there is a decline in expenses, farmers and those linked with the (apple) trade can be saved from distress," they said.

They requested a waiver of KCC and other apple related bank loans and also soft loans for farmers, saying, "The situation is such that they might lose a huge chunk of their capital this season and may not be able to pay back their monthly installments on loans."

Over-all the Fruit growers in Kashmir seek the help of Central government in all respects.

Source - http://brighterkashmir.com