Early Times Report
Jammu, July 15: Even as Jammu is famous for a variety of fruits like guava, jamun, and the citrus varieties like oranges and keenu, the government has skipped its special subsidy on air cargo facility for such locally grown lot. Kashmir, on the other hand, will enjoy the subsidy on most of its locally grown perishable fruits.
The government has decided to offer around 25 percent subsidy on the air cargo of some perishable fruits grown in Jammu and Kashmir.
In a big move, the Jammu and Kashmir government recently launched, for the first time, air cargo service from Jammu and Srinagar airports to top domestic and international markets for transportation of perishable horticulture and Agriculture produce.
As per the official documents, the market linkage support has been initiated by the Horticulture Department ‘PARVAZ scheme,’ as part of its endeavors to ensure good dividends of the horticulture produce, which eventually result in socio-economic emancipation of fruit growers and farmers of J&K by doubling their income.
“With 25 percent subsidy under Parvaz in place, the effective per kg air cargo charges for cherry, litchi, strawberry, pear, peach and plum from Jammu and Srinagar airports to Dubai and Sharjah will be only Rs 96 while it will be 21.75 for Dehli, Rs 29.25 for Mumbai, 39 for kolkatta, 40.5 for Chennai and 41.25 for Bangluru. This will revolutionize the marketing of fruits and vegetables of Jammu and Kashmir”, said the official handout.
As per the order, issued by the Government, sanction has been accorded to the implementation of ‘PARVAZ’, a market linkage support scheme, for shipment of agriculture and horticulture perishables being harvested in Jammu and Kashmir to domestic and International destinations through Air Cargo.
The order states that “subsidy shall be provided on Air Cargo charges inclusive of Airport handling charges for shipment through one or more empanelled Airlines by the government from time to time and in the DBT mode to the farmers/FPOs/SHGs and registered intermediaries besides subsidy shall be paid in the reimbursement mode as per the original invoices/bills of the concerned Airlines in offline mode only till 31.08.2021.”
When contacted a senior official talking to the Early Times on the condition of anonymity ruled out any discrimination.
He said the cherry, strawberry, pear, peach and plum and also grown in Jammu region and thus there was no chance of any discrimination adding that the government was committed to equitable development of both the regions. He said more fruits could be added to the list of subsidy once the scheme gains momentum. |
