Srinagar, Mar 15 (KNS): Jammu and Kashmir Kisan Tehreek Tuesday said that Horticulture is the most important and income generating industry of J&K State and Kashmir is an ideal region in the world for growing fresh and dry fruits. They said that the demand for such fruits within the country is very large and export potential is also very high.
While addressing a press conference here Ghulam Nabi Malik, General Secretary of Jammu and Kashmir Kisan Tehreek said that although this potential is not fully utilized yet this industry is generating an income of more than Rupees Six Thousand (6000) Crores and provides both direct and indirect employment to more than 33 lakh people in the state. “Keeping this fact in view the industry needs a special and focused attention as also considerable public investment. But, unfortunately, the experiences are contrary to the expectation,” he said.
In a statement issued to KNS, he said that though avowedly it is claimed that huge sums are spent for the expansion and development of the sector but the fact remains that their per hect yield is very low. “We are unable to produce our own latest and advanced quality of nurseries of international standard. It is a sad phenomenon that almost all departmental nurseries in the state are defunct and the business is wholly run by private producers. Research institutions are unable to face the challenges faced by this industry. We could not control the early blooming of almonds, apricots, cherries and now the apple as well. We have failed to provide the latest awareness to the growers to produce a quality walnut which could compete in the world market,” he said
He said that the apple industry is subject to the interests of bureaucracy and corporate amalgam. It is why we are being dubbed as toxic fruit producers. “We don’t have a disease forecasting system available which hampers our efforts to produce a disease free fruit. We are still for behind the standard packaging method. There are still no genuine efforts to provide sufficient cold storage facilities to the growers.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp ChannelDespite continued and vehement demands no sufficient funds, so far, have been allotted for providing proper irrigation facilities,” Malik said.
He said that despite tall claims by the govt. at various levels no crop insurance scheme is implemented in the horticulture sector. “We could not enhance the processing industry to the level so that whole “C Grade” culled fruit which consists of 30% of our total fresh fruit, could be utilized and made marketable. There is total anarchy in the packaging and transportation system. No market management for the benefit of growers is in place and market depends on the whims of Arties and Transporters,” Malik said.
He said that in absence of crop insurance scheme there is no adequate government mechanism to provide relief to the growers who suffer losses due to natural disasters.
It is pertinent to mention that the announcement made by the government last year assuring waiving off KCC loans have proved one more false promise.
He said that in such a situation Jammu and Kashmir Kisan Tehreek feels that to make Horticulture attractive and more profitable, a comprehensive Horticulture policy is the need of the hour. “Effective measures need to be taken so that disease free and quality nurseries, public investment in the field of research, addressing of pre and post harvesting problems, enhancement of processing industry, stoppage of substandard fertilizers, pesticides, insecticides and fungicides and coordination between the research institutions, horticulture department and the growers could be ensured,” Malik said.
Malik said that in addition the easy availability of high quality walnut, almond and cherry plants from Horticulture extension centers be made available so that the fruit neglected so far can flourish again.
J&K Kisan Tehreek later hopes that the above suggested Horticulture policy will make their dry and fresh fruit industry a grower friendly and will help to take the whole state ahead on the path of development. (KNS)