Rehan Qayoom Mir
Srinagar, Mar 8: The Kashmir Valley Fruit Growers Cum Dealers Association (KVFGDU) on Saturday expressed disappointment over the recently announced J&K Budget, saying it failed to address their long-pending demands.
Sharing details, Chairman of Kashmir Valley Fruit Growers Cum Dealers Association (KVFGDU), Bashir Ahmad Basheer, said that despite high hopes, the budget has offered nothing to fruit growers.
“We had demanded several measures for the upliftment of the horticulture sector, but unfortunately, we have been completely ignored,” he said.
He added that their key demands, like crop insurance, MIS schemes, and KCC loans, have all been overlooked. The growers had also sought the establishment of testing laboratories in all districts, exemption of GST on cardboard boxes and pesticides, and relief from skyrocketing fertilizer prices.
“We demanded the waiver of Kisan Credit Card (KCC) loans, citing the financial distress caused by natural calamities and economic disruptions over the years, but that too was ignored,” said Basheer.
He said they also urged the government to allocate funds for irrigation facilities, promote high-density plantations, and ensure smooth transportation of perishable fruits like cherries to major markets. However, despite assurances from the Chief Minister during their meeting, the fruit growers feel let down by the budget.
“The horticulture sector is the backbone of Kashmir’s economy, yet our genuine concerns continue to be overlooked,” Basheer added.
Earlier in February, a delegation of fruit growers met Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in Jammu and presented their key demands. These included the implementation of the crop insurance scheme and the reintroduction of the market intervention scheme (MIS), which had previously helped mitigate losses for growers.
