Early Times Report
Jammu, Jan 28: Lashing out at the government for failing to provide compensation to the apple farmers in Kashmir, who suffered heavy losses for the second straight year due to untimely snowfall in early November, J&K Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) vice-president and MLC G N Monga today said that big claims of the BJP government were falling flat.
In a statement issued to press here, he said the un-seasonal late autumn snowfall spelt doom for the apple orchards across Kashmir and the growers faced losses worth thousands of crores.
"Horticulture, which is the backbone of Kashmir's economy suffered a double thrashing last season. Just when a good crop had given the farmers hopes for a recovery from 2018 losses, the political turmoil since 5th of August badly affected the transportation industry and procurement market," he said and added that November 7 snowfall dealt a severe blow to fruit industry.
"Almost three months have passed since then, but the government has not even done the proper assessment of losses. The growers have been badly affected as not only their produce, but trees to suffered heavy damage which is a recurring loss," Monga said.
The Congress leader said in 2018 also, early snowfall had wreaked a similar havoc with apple orchards in Kashmir.
He asked the government to adequately compensate the fruit growers immediately who suffered losses due to November 7 snowfall. "New season is about to begin and farmers need money for pesticides, fertilizers and other activities. The government should not delay in paying adequate compensation to the farmers further," Monga demanded. |
