Ziraat Times News
Srinagar: Fruit growers of Kashmir have expressed displeasure over the announcement of the financial package by the Lt Governor today.
In separate statements, New Kashmir Fruit Association and Kashmir Fruit Growers and Dealers Association said that horticulture was Kashmir’s main economic backbone and it has been completely ignored in the package.
New Kashmir Fruit Association President Bashir A Basheer said horticulture industry suffered huge losses since August 2019.
“The growers couldn’t attend to the orchards, the rain and hailstorm damage and finally Covid-19 dealt a heavy blow to this industry. We have given representations to the government time and again but to no avail. The growers have been left to fend for themselves,” said Basheer.
President KFGDA, Fruit Mandi Sopore, Malik Fayaz alias Kakaji in a press release said that in the package of Rs 1350 Crore for J&K, apple industry has been neglected and nothing has been allotted for upliftment of apple industry despite being the backbone of Kashmir’s economy.
He said government should announce a special package for the horticulture industry which would help growers cover the losses it suffered for over one year.
“Government has time and again neglected the Apple Industry despite knowing the fact that 70 percent people of Kashmir are associated directly of indirectly with the sector and the people associated had been facing miseries and disastrous situations due to floods, untimely snow, 2019 shutdown and recent Covid Lockdown. The Apple Industry is at the verge of extinction as a result of Government continuous negligence. Kakaji was further quoted as saying that our requests for a package for Apple Industry from years has been falling to deaf ears. Government of India should announce a separate and healthy package for Growers to uplift the Apple Industry and help us save this industry from extinction”, Kakaji Said.