Horticulture sector in Kashmir needs more attention from the government to make it more profitable

asroor Ahmad

SOPORE: Reduction of Import duty on Washington Apple is not a big threat to fruit growers of Kashmir but import duty should be increased for betterment of Kashmiri fruit industry to provide a good and strong international market for Kashmiri apple. As we know that horticulture industry is the backbone of Kashmir’s economy .About 70 to 80 percent people are directly or indirectly involved in this sector and hundreds of well qualified unemployed youths are employed to provide two end meal a day for their family . In a special conversation with Sate Times, The Kashmir Fruit Growers and Dealers Association President Fayaaz Ahmad Malik @ Kaka Ji said, that we are very hopeful thatthe Government of India will impose more import duty on fruits from other countries including Washington apples. He said this year the variety of apple like American is at the verge of loss as the major importer of this apple is Bangladesh and it has increased import duty on Kashmiri apple which is deep concern for growers. Fayaz Ahmed said that the apple harvesting season is about to start and we hope that this year central government will provide us with a special lane for fruit-laden Trucks on the National Highway. He said that many so called and self-styled journalist created a buzz, that Kashmiri apples are going to disappear from the national level market because the government of India has reduced the import duty on Washington apples by cent percent, which is completely fake and fabricated just for views likes and share on social media.
He said, despite inclement weather situation in Kashmir Valley during April to June apple and other fruit production is satisfactory, we are in a fruit harvesting mission mode but we are requesting the LG administration to provide more cold storage facilities and facilitate fruit trucks .Some special arrangement should be made for smooth passage ,so that our industry will not suffer like last year. “India is a vast country with a population 1.4 crore so we have crores of customer ,in these circumstances why should we worry about the market and other things? “,he added. Fayaz Malik said that, there are many areas in the country which are still inaccessible for our business connectivity line but in the near future we will try to connect ,so there is no need to worry for Apple market.
He made an appeal to central government to pay us to pass through Silk Road to Gulf regions and other countries like Europe ,so that our fruit industry can grow more and more in future.