The revival of apple industry in Jammu & Kashmir worst hit by the two successive covid lockdowns one after the other from March 2020 to November 2021 deserves greater attention of the Government keeping in view the rising joblessness in post covid-pandemic scenario in Jammu & Kashmir. Since farmers particularly apple growers hit hard by two back to back covid lockdowns from March 2020 to Nov 2021 have suffered more losses due to recent traffic blockades on Srinagar-Jammu highway this year also , the growing demands for some incentives to apple growers deserve an immediate attention of the government. Though Government has taken some measures for releasing mounting pressure on apple growers but the demands for compensation for the losses apple growers have suffered due to recent traffic blockades on Jammu-Srinagar highway have not been conceded by the Government so for. While there is no alternative to a greater focus on other key sectors of economy like agriculture and medium and small industries (MSME), the horticulture sector demands greater attention than other key sectors of economy due to the heavy losses apple growers have suffered recently due to frequent traffic blockades on Srinagar-Jammu highway. Unfortunately recent blockades on Jammu-Srinagar highway hit hard apple growers this year yet again and still the Government has not announced any package for relief and rehabilitation of the apple orchardists whose fruits were rotten due to recent traffic blockades on Srinagar-Jammu0 highway. While the fact remains that no business community in any part of the world can withstand the stress of two consecutive lockdowns in two years and several traffic blockades this year on the only surface link used for transportation of apple to different parts of the country, the immediate focus of rehabilitation plans of the Government, has to be necessarily on protection of apple industry keeping in view the huge losses the apple growers have suffered due to frequent traffic blockades on Srinagar-Jammu highway this month.
Since Kashmir valley produces 77% of the apple produced in the country, the compensation for the losses suffered by apple growers due to recent traffic blockades is attracting greater attention even from some top economists of the country also. So the immediate priority for the government could be assessment of the losses suffered by apple growers for the purposes of compensating the losses and hassle free transportation facilities for hassle free transportation of apple from different parts of Kashmir to different fruit markets of the top metropolitan cities of the country.
Never forget that even if official figures are to believed, about 1, 64,854 hectares of land is under the cultivation of different varieties of apple in Valley and more over apple industry provides livelihood opportunities to over 3.5 million people annually. Since Kashmir valley produces 77% of the apple produced in the country, the compensation for the losses suffered by apple growers due to recent traffic blockades is attracting greater attention even from some top economists of the country also. So the immediate priority for the government could be assessment of the losses suffered by apple growers for the purposes of compensating the losses and hassle free transportation facilities for hassle free transportation of apple from different parts of Kashmir to different fruit markets of the top metropolitan cities of the country.
