Tasaduq Hussain
Handwara, Sep 15: Growers and dealers at Fruit mandi Handwara in Kupwara district Friday said that the horticulture sector won’t survive anymore if US apples are imported in the face of recent tariff reduction.
They said that the horticulture sector is facing losses due to intense heat wave in the valley and less rainfall.
“Colour isn’t that good and the production is less. There are fewer takers this year compared to past few years,” they said.
Fayaz Ahmad, one of the dealers associated with Fruit Mandi Handwara said that horticulture is one of the mainstays of the economy.
But in the last few years, growers are facing losses due to Covid pandemic and later closure of Srinagar-Jammu highway.
“We were very hopeful of a very good season this year. But unfortunately, the weather conditions spoiled it. Initially scab on fruit harmed good production and now the heat wave blemished our hopes,” Ghulam Ahmad, a grower at the Mandi said.
Another grower, Ali Mohammad there said that this mandi used to be overcrowded during this month and the next. “The drought-like situation has left fruits colorless. There are a few takers for the fruit,” he said.
Growers and traders said they have taken huge loan but are worried about its return now.
They also said that the decision to decrease the stamp duty on import of Apple from the US will leave a huge dent on the sector here.
“Of a total 35 per cent production this year about 15 per cent is waste and only 20 per cent qualified to be packed. But even that 20 per cent is undersize and colourless. The Government must give the MIS scheme this year given the losses,” they said.
Both growers and dealers have urged the Lieutenant Governor-led administration to look into the issue.
They urged that all of them are not able to pay bank loans and debits used during the entire season.
Notably, close to 80 per cent of the population of entire district is either directly or indirectly associated with agricultural activities horticulture.
