Danishwar Hameed
Kulgam, August 13: The Jammu Kashmir Apple Farmers’ Federation today staged a protest in Kulgam, pressing for a series of demands aimed at safeguarding the interests of apple growers in the Union Territory.
The protest, which began at 10:30 am, saw farmers raising slogans and urging the government to take immediate steps to address their concerns. Their key demands include the implementation of crop insurance, a 100% tax on foreign apples, enforcement of a Minimum Support Price (MSP) for apples, reduction of Mundi commission charges, waiver of Kisan Credit Card (KCC) loans, and a rollback of the recent power tariff hike.
Participants said the apple industry in Jammu and Kashmir is facing unprecedented challenges due to market fluctuations, rising input costs, and increasing competition from imported apples. They warned that without timely intervention, the sector could suffer severe setbacks, impacting thousands of families dependent on horticulture.
The Federation urged authorities to initiate dialogue and take concrete measures to meet their demands at the earliest.
Leading the protest were Zahoor Ahmad, State President; Mohd Yaqoob, State Joint Secretary; Mohd Afzal Parray, DDC; Ramesh Bhat, District Secretary; and Bashir Ahmad, District President of the Jammu Kashmir Apple Farmers’ Federation.
