Sopore, Dec 24: Former chief minister and DPAP Chairman Ghulam Nabi Azad on Sunday promised that he will provide subsidized pesticides to apple growers of Jammu and Kashmir once he is back to power since supporting farmers is very important to give a fillip to the local economy.
“If we have to focus on organic economic growth, we need to support the farmers and ensure they are stress-free and have pesticides and other facilities available at genuine rates since they are the engine of our economy which is predominantly agrarian-based,” Azad said while addressing a public rally at apple rich Dangerpora in north Kashmir.
“I believe as long as our farmers are not happy, the economy of Jammu and Kashmir won’t grow. Over 60 per cent population is directly or indirectly depending on the horticulture sector and shares a substantial revenue to keep our economy growing,” he added.
The DPAP chief said that alongside the subsidized pesticides, the farmers also need convenient transportation facilities to ensure on a timely basis the goods can reach mandis and fetch the deserving price. He said road convenience for the fruit-laden trucks would be his priority once people vote his party to power.
However, the former chief minister focused on enhanced road and train connectivity in the UT especially Sopore town which houses the second largest fruit mandi in Asia. “Maximum share of fruit from Kashmir is sold in Sopore Mandi and remains busy most of the year. So it needs to have enhanced connectivity. I will pitch for immediate start of train services besides the hassle-free road services for fruit-laden trucks,” he said.
To boost the agrarian economy of the UT, he promised that taxes would be substantially reduced. “I want the people of Jammu and Kashmir to smile and see them progressing and prospering economically. I will do whatever I can to fulfill this dream, with no insecurity and fear,” he said.
Azad, however, condemned the growing terror attacks in J&K and said that such attacks only consume innocent human lives. He said terrorism needs to be dealt with an iron fist so that innocent people can have a sigh of relief.
