Hakeem seeks KCC loan waiver, MIS scheme for fruit growers

Srinagar, July 19: Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Front (PDF), Hakeem Muhammad Yaseen on Friday expressed concerns over the current crisis gripping Kashmir’s apple trade, citing plummeting prices and diminished demand for local fruit in markets outside Jammu & Kashmir.
He has appealed to Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to urgently review the situation and introduce a comprehensive relief package for fruit growers and traders in the upcoming parliamentary Budget session.
In a statement issued here, Hakeem said Kashmir’s fruit industry is facing unprecedented challenges, which are exacerbated by the influx of foreign apples flooding Indian markets.
“The local fruit industry is reeling from the impact of low prices and reduced demand, with approximately 20% of last year’s apple production still unsold and stored in Controlled Atmosphere (CA) facilities,” he said.
The former minister warned that this downward trend could further depress prices during the upcoming autumn harvest. The current market conditions are due to the substantial importation of apples from countries like Iran, the US, and South Africa, he said.
Yaseen urged the government to impose import duties on foreign apples to bolster demand and prices for Kashmiri apples. He called for the waiver of loans under the Kisan Credit Card (KCC) scheme and the reintroduction of the Market Intervention Scheme (MIS) to alleviate financial burdens on affected growers and traders.
“The fruit industry is the backbone of Kashmir’s economy, and it requires significant government intervention to navigate through this crisis and sustain its vitality,” Hakeem said.
The PDF Chairman stressed the need for concerted efforts to safeguard the interests of apple growers, traders, and the overall economy of Jammu & Kashmir.