SRINAGAR, June 4: Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (JKNC) senior leader and former MLA from Ganderbal Sheikh Ishfaq Jabbar on Thursday demanded smooth and fast transportation of the cherry crop from Kashmir to other parts of the country in view of its short life span.
In a statement issued here, Jabbar said the the lockdown across the country has been eased up and almost all other State governments have already allowed inter and intra state transportation of fruit and other agricultural produce amid the prevailing circumstances and demanded smooth transportation of Cherry crops to outside mandis from Kashmir and said if the fruit is not transported immediately it would perish before reaching its destination.
Mr Jabbar demanded minimum support price (MSP) for cherry as despite the high yield this year farmers are facing massive losses due to limited demand amid the coronavirus pandemic.
He said that despite the sizeable yield, farmers are a worried lot because of the lack of demand following the closure of markets and difficulties in transporting the cherries from farms to markets amid Covid-19-related restrictions. They are getting a price of Rs 60_70 per kg as against double the amount last year.
Ishfaq said that Fruit industry in J&K generates livelihood for thousands of unemployed youth and the government should provide requisite facilities to the people associated with this important sector accordingly.
Mr Jabbar has urged the Governor administration especially the department of horticulture and the associated institutions to pay adequate attention to the problems faced by the fruit growers especially dealing with the Cherry production and ensure affordable transportation for farmers especially Cherry growers to supply their produce to markets across the country.