Facing big trade disruption, Kashmir fruit growers write to govt

Srinagar, Apr 14 (PTK): Kashmir Valley Fruit Growers Cum Dealers Union and the New Kashmir Fruit Association have written to J&K administration expressing their concern for the transportation and delivery disruptions of Kashmir apples outside the state, particularly at Azadpur Fruit Mandi.

As per Press Trust of Kashmir (PTK), in a letter written by Bashir Ahmad Basheer, chairman of Kashmir Valley Fruit Growers Cum Dealers Union and president of the New Kashmir Fruit Association to the Secretary to Govt, Horticulture Department, Mr Bashir writes, “We would like to inform your good self that a meeting had been held on 11-04-2020 in APMC (MNI) office in which DM North, DCP, VC (DAMB), Chairman and Secretary (MNI) were also present in view of outbreak of Covid-19, it has been resolved in this meeting that the commodities of
vegetables will be sold in Azadpur Mandi from 6 am to 11 am and the commodities of fruits will be sold
from 2pm to 6pm from Monday to Saturday and it will be implemented from 13-04-2020 till further orders.”

Making a case for change in timings of fruit related activities to ensure Kashmir apples do not rot in hot weather conditions, the associations further said, “it is submitted that apple once loaded from CA Stores from the valley usually
reaches in Azadpur Mandi in the morning hours only with the hope that the same will be sold in the Mandi
in morning hours exclusively. In fact, the apple once taken out from CA Stores needs to be sold straight
away failing which it will lose its strength and may not, therefore, fetch any returns.”

“The decision taken in APMC (MNI) meeting regarding Marketing of Apple in Azadpur Mandi from 2pm to 6pm does not suit in a no way to Valley based Fruit Growers/Dealers and in case if the decision is not rolled back/withdrawn
immediately the Valley Based Fruit Growers/Dealers who had already suffered heavy losses continuously
since last few years either due to natural calamity or turmoil from time to time will have to face another jolt
of heavy losses”, the fruit growers and dealers have demanded.

Since Valley Based Fruit Growers/Dealers are extremely worried and anxious with the decision
taken in APMC (MNI) meeting, restricting the Marketing of Apple in Azadpur Mandi from 2pm to 6pm
with its implementation from 13-04-2020 may incur heavy losses, they maintain. (PTK)