SAHIL BHAT
OCT 6: In the wake of grave losses suffered by the Fruit Growers across Kashmir valley owing to closure of Jammu-Srinagar NH, Former J&K Chief Minister and incumbent PDP President Mehbooba Mufti appealed to the administration to to waive off Kisan Credit Card (KCC) loans and made a strong pitch for the revival of Market Intervention Scheme (MIS).
While speaking to the reporters, PDP Chief Mehbooba Mufti expressed grave concern over the huge loss suffered by the Horticulture industry amid the shutdown of National Highway due to inclement weather and said this type of loss has surpassed all records of tough days of Horticulture Industry.
“Even when militancy was at peak in Kashmir valley, the Horticulture industry has not suffered this much,” Mehbooba pointed out.
PDP stalwart asked Omar-led Govt to provide relief to affected orchardists at the earliest. And appealed administration to exempt the Kisan Credit Card (KCC) loans of fruit growers who are facing severe financial distress.
Mehbooba Mufti also called for the revival of the Market Intervention Scheme (MIS) that was introduced during Mufti Mohammad Syed government’s tenure. She said, “Under this Scheme lower-grade apples were procured by the Government for processing into juice and other products.”
Mehbooba Mufti says fruit industry is considered the backbone of the J&K rural economy by imaprting employment to scores of traders.
“Taking into consideration the facet that tourism industry in Kashmir has crumbled this year and more injury to Horticulture industry will deliver stern blow to livelihoods across Kashmir, hence the Government must act instantly,” Mehbooba cautioned.
The PDP supremo enumerated several initiatives undertaken in her tenure, including toll tax exempted for fruit-laden trucks and the introduction of high-density plantation schemes aimed to upgrade apple production.
Mehbooba urged the NC-led Omar Abdullah Government to intervene extensively into horticulture crisis and impart respite to the suffeing orchardists.
