Stop corporatisation of Apple industry: NCC

Srinagar: The National Coordination Committee of Apple Farmers (NCC) on Sunday demanded immediate solutions to prevent the corporatisation of the Apple Industry and ensure the remunerative price of apples in the country.
The two-day National Coordination Committee Meeting and Public meeting of Apple Farmers Federation of India which concluded at Chawalgam, Kulgam in south Kashmir on Sunday, demanded immediate as well as policy solutions to prevent the corporatisation of Apple Industry and protect Apple farmers by reducing the cost of production and ensuring remunerative price.
The meeting was presided over by Rakesh Singha, the National Co-coordinator and Former MLA from Himachal Pradesh. Mohammed Yousuf Tarigami, National Coordinator placed the Report. Members from Jammu Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand also attended the meeting.
Tarigami while addressing the public meeting accused the Jammu Kashmir Administration of not preventing spurious pesticides and fertilizers and allowing huge profiteering by hiking the price of such inputs.
He flayed the Union Government for allegedly giving Controlled Atmosphere Stores (CAS) on rent to corporate companies including Adani group and demanded to provide storage facilities at subsidized rates directly to farmers. The government is giving a 50 percent subsidy to Corporate Companies to build CAS to run at commercial rent.
Rakesh Singha alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has signed an agreement with US President Biden to reduce the import duty from 70 percent to 50 percent thus facilitating the import of Apple.
“Modi Government has been pauperizing the farmers by increasing the cost of production and denying remunerative procurement price and facilitating corporatisation of Apple Industry”, he said.
He said in the domestic market the price of Apple ranges between Rs.250 to Rs.500 while the procurement price of farmers is in the range of Rs.30 to Rs.60. Due to Corporatisation of Apple Industry common people are unable to consume Apple.
He demanded a price policy to ensure 50 percent of the retail price as the procurement price for farmers.
P Krishnaprasad, AIKS Finance Secretary and former MLA from Kerala congratulated Apple farmers of Kashmir for forming the Federation at the village level and for their massive participation in the public meeting.
He appealed to form a vibrant farmers’ Federation in all villages since farmers can fight and win their rights if they are united based on their burning issues.
He said the historical farmers’ struggle in Delhi borders was a game changer and the consistent struggle of farmers as well as workers on livelihood issues has been a major factor in the remarkable setback suffered by the BJP-NDA in the recent Lok Sabha election.
Zahor Ahmad Rather, the President of Jammu Kashmir Apple Farmers Federation demanded full coverage insurance in the Public Sector for Apple farmers. He also demanded to quarantine the Hybrid plants to prevent diseases in the domestic plantation.
The NCC meeting decided to submit a Memorandum to the Prime Minister, Union Minister of Agriculture through Members of Parliament to the respective Chief Ministers and to the Lieutenant Governor of Jammu Kashmir to resolve the immediate and policy demands of Apple farmers.
UNI