Ziraat Times News
Srinagar: Fruit growers of Kashmir have made a fervent appeal to the residents of Jammu & Kashmir to prioritize consuming local fruit to save livelihoods and lives of the fruit growing communities.
Fruit growers of Kashmir are facing the prospects of losing their crops due to the lockdown conditions and the existing slump in demand.
In a statement received by Ziraat Times, Kashmir Valley Fruit Growers Cum Dealers Union and the New Kashmir Fruit Association have made the following appeal to the general public of J&K.
The general public of J&K are informed that since the devastating flood of the year 2014 the fruit growers of the valley have constantly suffered thousands crores of rupees due to one or the other reason. In fact 10 lakh families are directly or indirectly are connected for their survival with this Industry. In case preventive measures for survival of this Industry are not considered there is every apprehension of turning of this fruit industry into a sick industry with the result all these 10 lakh families, who are directly or indirectly connected with this industry, will naturally face hardships.
About 13000-15000 metric tons of certain varieties of cherry is
annually produced by the Cherry Growers of the Valley and 60% of the total
produce are from Makhmali and Mishri varieties which are as per prospects transported to Mumbai Mandi through Air cargo or by
railway.
Since Mumbai is extremely hit by Covid-19 and in view of threat
of further spread of the virus, there are curfew like situation in Mumbai,
the Fruit Mandi Mumbai is, therefore, completely closed for any business
with the result the valley-based cherry growers are not, therefore, in a
position to send their Makhmali and Mishri varieties of Cherry to Mumbai
in view of prevailing situation.
Similarly, factory walas of the Valley and outside J&K UT as well who
were lifting Double Cherry every year for canning are reluctant to lift
Double Cherry due to uncertainty of its marketing and non-functional of
Canning Units as well.
Though the Lt. Governor’s Administration were repeatedly requested
by the KVFG Union, which is an Umbrella Body of all Fruit Associations
of the Valley, to provide facilities for airlifting of Cherry and Railway
facilities for transports of cherry outside J&K, they did not pay any
attention till date. The Lt. Governor’s Administration is once again
requested kindly consider minimum support prices of all varieties of cherry to tune of Rs. 100/- per kg.
Under the circumstances the general public of J&K are informed
that the poor Cherry Growers of the Valley are apprehension of losses of thousands crores of rupees during the present fruit season as well in
view of the prevailing situation of restrictions imposed due to Covid-19.
The general public of J&K are, therefore, requested kindly prefer to
consume cherry and other local fruits so that fruit industry of the Valley
could survive and 10 lakh families of the Valley which are directly or
indirectly connected will not face any hardships of their livelihood.