Apple farmers demand cold storage, subsidies as J&K gears up for third phase Assembly polls

Sep 28, 2024

Sopore (J&K), September 28 (ANI): As Jammu and Kashmir gears up for the third phase of Assembly elections, apple growers associated with Asia's second-largest fruit mandi, located in Sopore, are voicing their demands for better infrastructure and government support. These growers, a key part of the region’s horticulture industry, are seeking the establishment of cold storage facilities, tax waivers, and subsidies on pesticides and fertilizers. Known as the "apple town" of Kashmir Valley, Sopore’s fruit mandi in North Kashmir’s Baramulla district generates an annual turnover exceeding ₹13,000 crore and handles over 60% of Kashmir’s apple production. The mandi is a crucial hub, dispatching apples to over 470 locations across India and exporting to neighbouring countries such as Nepal and Bangladesh. With more than 200 trucks loaded with apples leaving the mandi daily, the local apple trade provides employment to over 20,000 people. Ahead of the Assembly elections, many growers are looking to support candidates who pledge to prioritize the horticulture sector and address their concerns. The region's apple industry, which contributes significantly to Jammu and Kashmir’s GDP, is hoping for policies that will stabilize prices, improve infrastructure, and ensure greater financial support for growers facing losses due to natural calamities. As the elections approach, the apple growers of Sopore have made it clear that their votes will go to leaders who are committed to the development of the region’s horticulture sector.