Srinagar: BJP leader from J&K, Er. Aijaz Hussain, on Sunday expressed concern over the huge losses suffered by Kashmir’s fruit industry this season, urging the Centre to announce immediate compensation and relief for affected farmers.
Hussain said the Valley’s horticulture sector, considered the backbone of its economy, had suffered damages worth hundreds of crores of rupees, leaving thousands of farmers in distress. “It is deeply painful to see the plight of farmers whose produce is rotting due to official inaction. Such delays are unacceptable,” he said.
He called on the Union Government to roll out a special relief package, provide market support for unsold fruit, and strengthen long-term infrastructure such as cold storage, transport facilities, and crop insurance. “The farmers of Kashmir have given their sweat and toil to the land; it is the duty of the government to protect them. Immediate and decisive action is the need of the hour,” he added.
Warning that inaction could push thousands of families into financial crisis, Hussain reaffirmed his commitment to raise the issue at the highest levels and hold authorities accountable. “The horticulture sector is the lifeline of Kashmir’s economy, and protecting it must be the government’s top priority,” he said.
