Srinagar: Bhat Musaddiq Reyaz on Thursday sought the intervention of Prime Minister Narendra Modi & Lieutenant Governor J&K Manoj sinha to prevent the huge losses apple growers have incurred due to the import of Iranian apples to India as it’s doesn’t meet phytosanitary standards of country.
About 65 to 70 per cent of Kashmir’s population is supported by agriculture and horticulture & contributes 50% to the Union Territory’s GDP.
The farmers who changed there blood into sweat throughout the year to get quality crops by investing there savings on pesticides & horticultural equipments will suffer more due to the import.
As 1.50 crore boxes of apples are stored in various cold stores throughout the valley that belong to marginal growers who expect the stored produce to fetch good returns but imported apples can decline the rates as apples from Iran, have been selling at cheaper rates than local apples in different states of country.
This may spoil the farmers as well as the business which is affiliated with the horticulture of Kashmir. if the situation doesn’t get better, as the local horticulture sector provides livelihood to 3.5 million people who are directly or indirectly involved in this.
As Ministry of Agriculture ban the import of Kiwi’s few days back, Similar action should be followed regarding to the import of apple from Iran.
