The government will pump in Rs 8,000 crore to help apple and dry fruit traders in Jammu and Kashmir and refresh business sentiment in the Valley, which will include Rs 2,000 crore towards obtaining apples directly from the growers this season. State-run National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India will acquire 60% apples produced in the state in the wake of terrorists threatening apple growers not to sell their produce in the market.
Nafed would obtain three grades of apples, Grade A, B and C under a special Market Intervention Price Scheme and payments will be made directly to the growers bank account through DBT (direct benefit transfer) mode within 48 hours.
According to officials "Quality control cum grading committees will be constituted for each mandi for validation cum certification of the apple to be procured at the mandis.”
The government would set up a committee which will determine procurement price based on the variety and grade of apples, and other charges like packaging, transportation, storage and related expenditure.
Nafed would purchase apples from cultivators through the directorate of horticulture, planning and marketing. According to data received, Kashmir accounts for production of 91% walnuts, 90% of almonds, cherry and saffron, and 70% apples in the country, which makes a total worth of 7000 crore annually.
But the shutdown in the valley due to abrogation of the special status given to J&K under Article 370 and division of the state into two Union Territories early last month has hit apple trade, with fruit truck movement significantly reducing.
Chief Secretary BVR Subrahmanyam on Monday asked the state authorities to evaluate the number of trucks required for transportation of apple crop and plan a movement plan for trucks to take fruits out of the state. As per Jammu and Kashmir administration, it would require around 1,100-1,200 trucks per day to transport apples during the season starting September 15.
