Jammu farmers urge Horticulture Dept not to close Narwal Mandi during summer vacations

Jammu: A group of concerned farmers led by S. Tejinder Singh Wazir, Member of the Kissan Advisory Board and President of the JK Kissan Council, gathered in Jammu Monday to express strong resentment over the proposed closure of the Narwal Fruit and Vegetable Mandi during the summer vacation period.

Speaking to Ziraat Times, the farmers cautioned that any such closure would disrupt routine trade operations and cause severe economic losses to small and marginal growers, who rely on daily sales of their highly perishable produce. “Vegetables begin to deteriorate within hours of harvesting. If farmers cannot access the market daily, they suffer both quality degradation and significant financial setbacks,” Wazir said during the gathering.

He emphasized that crores of rupees in produce are lost annually due to such arbitrary closures and urged the government to safeguard farmer livelihoods by ensuring uninterrupted operations of the Narwal Mandi, especially for perishable items. “This market is the backbone of the fresh produce supply chain in the region. Any disruption not only affects farmers but also impacts consumers and the entire local economy,” he added.

Wazir appealed to the Director of Horticulture Planning and Marketing, J&K UT, to issue immediate instructions to keep the mandi operational throughout the summer vacation period, stressing that the interests of farmers and consumers should not be compromised for the convenience or pleasure of any trader group.

He reiterated that no seasonal closure should be permitted in such a critical infrastructure facility and demanded a permanent policy solution to prevent future disruptions.