Pulwama, Sep 20 (KNO): Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader from Jammu and Kashmir, Ravinder Raina on Saturday urged the Union Territory administration to waive off Kisan Credit Card (KCC) loans of apple growers, who suffered massive losses this season due to the continuous highway closures, high freight charges and plummeting demand in outside markets.
Raina, who visited multiple fruit mandis in Pulwama and Shopian, interacted with growers, who expressed deep concern over the prevailing situation.
Farmers told him that this year has turned into a “nightmare” for the horticulture sector, as hundreds of trucks laden with apple boxes remain stranded due to frequent landslides on the Srinagar–Jammu National Highway and shortage of transport facilities.
“Thousands of apple boxes are lying in mandis, waiting to be transported to markets outside Kashmir. The prolonged closure of the highway has crippled the supply chain, and high freight charges on national highway and alternate routes have made the situation unbearable for growers,” the farmers told Raina.
Speaking to reporters, the BJP leader as per the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) said that the horticulture sector, which is the backbone of Kashmir’s economy, is passing through one of the most difficult phases in recent times.
“The growers have suffered heavy losses this year. The government must immediately take measures to provide relief. Waiving off KCC loans of farmers is the need of the hour so that they are not pushed further into financial distress,” Raina said.
He added that the administration must also ensure adequate availability of trucks at mandis, reduce freight rates, and take measures for smooth transportation of fruit produce to different states. “This is not just an economic issue but also a livelihood crisis for lakhs of families who depend on horticulture. Government intervention is necessary and urgent,” he said.
Kashmir’s horticulture sector contributes around 8% to the UT’s GDP, with apples forming the largest share. However, this year’s challenges — from natural calamities to logistic hurdles — have left the industry on the brink, forcing stakeholders to appeal for immediate relief measures—(KNO)