Peoples’ Conference (PC) senior vice-president and former minister Abdul Gani Vakil has commented on the hardships fruit growers in Kashmir are facing as ‘the Indian government side-lined their demands and that the fruit industry in Kashmir is on the verge of a collapse’.
A statement from the party said that many promises made to fruit growers by successive governments to promote said industry, but nothing has been done. Vakil: “Although after the abrogation of Article 370, the government of India made big promises that apple industry in Kashmir will be boosted through special packages but it has remained restricted to statements only.”
The fruit industry has already been badly hit due to the pandemic, unrest, problematic weather and the illegal import of Iranian apples, but nothing is being done for upliftment of this vital industry.
While addressing a recent gathering Vakil appealed to the Indian government and especially PM Narendra Modi to take special steps to in revive the fruit industry by granting a comprehensive economic package to fruit growers, including the waiving of the KCC Loan which is necessary so that fruit growers can heave a sigh of relief.
Source: risingkashmir.com