Waheed Para Seeks All-Party Meet on Apple Crisis in Assembly

Jammu, Feb 17, KNT: Peoples Democratic Party legislator Waheed ur Rehman Para on Tuesday called for convening an all-party meeting in the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly to formulate a unified strategy to address the growing crisis in Kashmir’s apple industry.

Speaking in the House, Para described apples as the backbone of the Union Territory’s economy and cautioned that nearly seven million people directly or indirectly dependent on the horticulture sector could be affected if timely measures are not taken.

He expressed concern over the implications of free trade agreements with countries such as the United States, New Zealand and European nations, stating that local growers must be protected from potential adverse impacts of increased imports.

While acknowledging the government’s pre- and post-harvest initiatives in the horticulture sector, Para highlighted structural challenges within the industry. He pointed out that out of approximately 30 lakh kanals of orchard land in Jammu and Kashmir, only about 30,000 kanals are currently under high-density plantation.

Para urged the government to accelerate transition to high-density cultivation and demanded provision of interest-free loans to farmers under the Holistic Agriculture Development Programme to support modernization and enhance competitiveness.

He stressed that a collective political approach was essential to safeguard the interests of apple growers and sustain the region’s rural economy. [KNT]