Mudasir Maqbool
Srinagar, Aug 4 : The President of Fruits & Vegetables Processing & Integrated Cold Chain Association (JKPICCA ) Bashir Ahmad Naik on Monday urged apple growers to avoid premature harvesting renewed its demand for a comprehensive crop insurance scheme for the horticulture sector and called upon the government to ensure uninterrupted movement of fruit laden trucks on the Srinagar Jammu National Highway (NH-44) during the ongoing harvesting season.
Addressing a press conference in Srinagar JKPICCA President said the apple harvesting season has commenced in the lower belts of Kashmir, while growers in the upper belts should wait for a few more days until the fruit attains proper maturity.
He cautioned that premature harvesting affects the quality and shelf life of apples resulting in poor market prices and damaging the reputation of Kashmir apples across the country.
He appealed to orchardists to follow scientific harvesting practices and harvest fruit only after it reaches the recommended maturity stage.
The JKPICCA President also strongly pitched for the introduction of a crop insurance scheme for horticulture growers in Jammu and Kashmir. He said the association has repeatedly taken up the issue with the authorities and urged Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and the Union Government to implement a dedicated insurance policy for fruit growers.
He said horticulture is frequently hit by natural disasters, including hailstorms, heavy rainfall, strong winds and other weather related events leaving growers to bear huge financial losses. “States like Uttarakhand have already implemented crop insurance schemes for farmers. It is high time that Jammu and Kashmir also gets a similar scheme to protect orchardists from unforeseen losses,” he said.
Highlighting another major concern the JKPICCA President urged the administration to ensure smooth traffic movement on NH-44 throughout the fruit season. He said all departments concerned should keep men and machinery ready at vulnerable locations so that road clearance is carried out immediately whenever required.
He stressed that fruit laden trucks should be given priority passage to prevent delays in reaching wholesale markets outside Jammu and Kashmir. “Last year, prolonged highway disruptions caused heavy losses to apple growers as trucks remained stranded for days. The government must take all necessary preventive measures this season to ensure uninterrupted transportation of fruit,” he said.
The association also expressed concern over issues related to subsidy benefits for newly established Controlled Atmosphere (CA) cold storage units.
The JKPICCA President said several entrepreneurs who invested heavily in modern storage infrastructure are facing difficulties due to delays in subsidy disbursement.
He urged the government and the Horticulture Department to address the issue on priority, saying that timely financial support would encourage investment in the horticulture sector and strengthen post harvest infrastructure across the Valley.
Reiterating that horticulture is the backbone of Jammu and Kashmir’s economy and supports lakhs of families directly and indirectly the JKPICCA President appealed to the government to address the genuine concerns of growers and ensure a smooth, profitable and hassle free harvesting season across the Union Territory.
