Srinagar, Feb 17 (KNO): Raising alarm over what he described as a looming economic threat for Jammu and Kashmir, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) legislator Waheed ur Rehman Para on Tuesday called for an all-party meeting in the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly to develop a united response to the growing challenges confronting Kashmir’s apple sector.
Addressing the House, Para, as reported by the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), said the apple industry is not merely an agricultural activity but the economic backbone of the region, sustaining nearly seven million people directly and indirectly — from orchardists and labourers to traders, transporters, and cold storage operators.
“Kashmir’s apples are the lifeline of our rural economy. Any policy decision that weakens this sector will have devastating social and economic consequences,” he warned, urging lawmakers across party lines to rise above political differences and work out a comprehensive protection plan for local growers.
Para expressed serious concern over India’s expanding free trade agreements with countries such as the United States, New Zealand, and several European nations, cautioning that cheaper imported apples could flood Indian markets and undercut Kashmiri produce.
“Growers here are already grappling with rising input costs, climate uncertainties, and marketing bottlenecks. Opening markets further without strong safeguards will push them into deeper distress,” he said, stressing the need for tariff protections, quality controls on imports, and incentives for domestic farmers.
While appreciating the government’s ongoing horticulture reforms under the Holistic Agriculture Development Programme, the PDP leader said that progress on the ground remains limited.
He pointed out that Jammu and Kashmir has nearly 30 lakh kanals of orchard land, yet only around 30,000 kanals have so far shifted to high-density apple cultivation — a modern technique that boosts productivity and income.
“This pace is far too slow. If we are serious about transforming horticulture, high-density plantations must be scaled up rapidly, especially for small and marginal farmers,” he said.
To accelerate modernisation, the MLA demanded interest-free or heavily subsidised loans for orchardists under HADP, arguing that many farmers lack the financial capacity to invest in new plantation models, irrigation systems, and protective infrastructure.
“Without easy credit, these reforms will remain on paper. Farmers need real financial support, not just announcements,” he asserted.
Para urged the government to convene an all-party meeting at the earliest to frame a long-term apple policy that includes market protection, export promotion, climate resilience, insurance coverage, and stronger post-harvest infrastructure.
“This is not about one party or one region. It is about safeguarding the economic future of Kashmir,” he said. “If the apple industry collapses, the ripple effect will be felt across the entire Union Territory.”—(KNO)