Demands MSP, cold storage, transport facilities to growers

Pulwama  August 30(KNS): District Conference of Apple Farmers under the banner of Apple Farmers Federation of Kashmir was held on Wednesday at Fruit Mandi, Prichoo Pulwama with  focus on the theme "Save Apple, Save Kashmir. The conference was presided over by kisan leader Manzoor Ahmad Malik.

The conference discussed several issues confronting the kisans associated with the apple industry. These issues included dwindling prices as per previous year, increased input costs including rising prices of fertilizers, pesticide, fungicides and inadequate cold storage facilities etc. One cold store run by the government at Shopian is abandoned and dysfunctional which needs to be made functional. Although there is a cold storage facility of 2.5 lac metric tons, we need an 8 lac metric tons facility.
While inaugurating the conference veteran Kisan leader Zahoor Ahmad Rather expressed serious concern over the plight of orchardists in the region. He said that apple growers have been neglected by the government. Market intervention Scheme which has been stopped should be restarted enabling small and marginalised farmers to sell their produce at reasonable rates.
Mohamad Yousuf Tarigami while addressing the conference said that apples provide livelihood to thousands of households of Kashmir but apple farmers are in distress. The major issue confronting the apple farmers is the denial of remunerative price. They are being supplied with spurious pesticides, fungicides and fertilizers, which harm the produce instead of treating different diseases. He urged the scientists and faculty of SKAUST to examine the remedy for it. He demanded establishment of laboratories for testing these chemicals, fertilizers by the Horticulture department at every apple producing district. 100% import duty on foreign apples, provision of fertilizers and pesticides at subsidized rates to apple farmers, construction of cold stores at every apple producing Tehsil /District so that the apple could be dispatched to the markets well in time. All claims of development remain hollow unless livelihood issues of common people are not addressed.

The conference demanded hassle free movement of apple laden trucks on National Highway, expansion of high-density apple varieties to apple farmers, who opt for  this scheme should be provided subsidy directly instead of private companies or individuals to encourage more farmers to opt for the scheme. The conference also demanded a government regulated crop insurance scheme and regulation of transportation and freight charges. Horticulture department. The Horticulture department should guide the apple growers for a good crop.
The Almond crop which is grown in Pulwama district is also facing distress. Due to lack of irrigation facilities, bumper crop, is not expected. Thus, demand raised for its irrigation must be addressed.

Others who spoke on the occasion include President Kisan Tehreek Ghulam Mohamad Shah, kisan leaders Mohmad Ashraf Shah, Mohd Ayoub Ashmandri, Ab Rashid Itoo, Ab Rashid Pandit CITU leader, Javid Ahmad Bhat President Fruit Mandi Pulwama. Former DDC Chairperson Pulwama Abdul Bari also greeted the conference (KNS)