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| APGA demands relief for damaged crops | | | Jammu, Mar 16
Former Minister and NCP President Thakur Randhir Singh who is also President Aromatic Plants Growers Association of India(APGAI) today demanded assessment of damages to Strawberry , Almonds and other fruits and standing crops in J&K due to heavy rains followed by hailstorm and snowfall,
Addressing a Press conference here today he said a joint team of Revenue, Horticulture and other allied departments should be constituted to asses the damages. He said that full compensation should be provided to the affected growers besides waiving off their loans.
Giving details of the losses suffered by growers to their orchards crops, he said that growers in Jammu had raised more than Rs. One crore loan from banks and now extensive damage to their crops they are unable. to pay it back and demanded that the Govt. must remit their loans to save them from further hardships.
Mr. Singh also pleaded for procuring B and C grade strawberry for manufacturing juice and concentrate under Market Intervention Scheme on the pattern of apple growers in Kashmir Valley to offset the losses of the farmers. He also demanded that the State Govt. should provide matching grant of 20 percent as provided by the National Horticulture Board (NHB), Ministry of Agriculture in Chattisgarh, Uttrakhand and other states of the country so that economic conditions of growers of J&K will also improve and they get full benefit of the schemes launched by the centre. He said as President Aromatic Plants Growers Association of India (APGAI) promoted by Ministry of Agriculture, Govt. of India can help the state government in accessing such schemes for overall progress of the State. He said APGAI, has its branches in 28 states of the country which get benefits from the organization but unfortunately J&K being his native state has not shown any interest inspite of the circular issued by the Central govt. to the Director of Horticulture, Jammu & Kashmir.
Sham Singh President Strawberry Growers Association of J&K accused the State Horticulture & Agriculture Departments for misappropriating crores of rupees under Horticulture Technology Mission He said chief minister Ghulam Nabi Azad should order a probe by CBI in the bungling as the farmers are not being benefited by these schemes. The funds are being pocketed by the officials; Sham Singh said adding that he would launch a farmer’s agitation demanding 20% matching grant on the pattern of Chattisgarh, Uttrakhand and other States of the country.
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