Former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir and President of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Mehbooba Mufti, raised concerns about the critical apple cultivation industry in the Kashmir Valley and accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of undermining the region’s economic backbone.
In her address to the media in Pulwama district on Sunday, Mufti highlighted several key issues, saying, “Last year, we witnessed the unfortunate incident where apple-laden trucks were stranded on national highways, causing immense losses to our farmers. This year, the reduction in American apple export duties has led to lower prices for American apples, posing a significant challenge to our local farmers.”
She also drew attention to the disparity in subsidies, stating, “While American farmers benefit from subsidies on fertilizers and pesticides, our Kashmiri farmers face high rates for the same agricultural essentials.”
Remembering the late Mufti Syed’s initiatives, she noted, “Mufti Sahab had waived toll taxes on apples and introduced a market intervention scheme for fallen apples, ensuring fair prices, especially for juice extraction purposes. He had also established fruit Mandis and cold storage facilities to strengthen the apple economy.”
In her appeal to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Mufti emphasized, “Kashmir’s farmers deserve more support and a brighter economic future. I urge the Prime Minister to address these pressing issues and prioritize the well-being of our agricultural community.”
