Srinagar, Jan 04 (KNS): Former Minister and Sr. Vice President Abdul Gani Vakil today asked the government to impose a blanket ban on Iranian apples as it has ruined the market of homegrown Kashmiri apples.

In a statement issued to KNS, Vakil said that the illegal import of Iranian apples has flooded into the market and raised concerns among the apple growers of Jammu and Kashmir. 

He demanded immediate ban on import of iranian apple as fruit industry had already been already in trouble and in loss due to COVID 19, natural calamities, blockade of national highway on several occasions and due to turmoil in valley If government of India does not ban import of iranian apple, the industry will collapse and fruit growers will suffer. Fruit industry is providing livelihood to thousands of people, their livelihood will be affected.

While expressing his anguish over the ‘illegal’ import of Iranian apples from Afghanistan to various fruit markets in the country, he said that such attempts are aimed to discourage fruit growers and amounts to depriving thousands of people from their livelihood in Kashmir valley.

“It seems GOI is preferring foreign apples over Kashmiri apples. Even at the present, the valley is facing a shortage of cold stores where fruit growers could have stored their produce,” he said.

"It becomes an obligation for the government to come to the support and succor of the fruit industry as they form the backbone of our economy and have always been suffering on account of lockdowns, hartals, weather vagaries and fluid political situation in the valley,” Vakil added.

Vakil reiterated his demand of waiving of KCC loans of fruit growers as most of the growers are struggling to pay their taxes and loans. The fruit industry, which was once the backbone of J&K’s economy, is now at the verge of extinction,” and importing foreign apples is going to be final nail in the coffin in destroying the vital industry Vakil added. (KNS)