Examiner Bureau | Kulgam:
The Jammu and Kashmir Apple Farmers’ Federation on Thursday staged a protest in south Kashmir’s Kulgam district, demanding immediate government intervention to safeguard the interests of apple growers across the Union Territory.
The protesting farmers highlighted several issues affecting the horticulture sector, with a key demand for the implementation of a comprehensive Crop Insurance Scheme to protect orchardists from losses caused by natural calamities and other unforeseen circumstances. They also sought easier access to the Kisan Credit Card (KCC) facility, saying timely and affordable credit is essential to support farmers facing financial stress.
Addressing the gathering, Federation President Zahoor Ahmad said the protest was aimed at drawing the government’s attention to the growing challenges confronting the farming community.
“Our demand is to protect the lives and livelihoods of farmers by ensuring financial security and providing adequate compensation against crop losses,” he said.
The Federation urged the administration to address the concerns of apple growers on priority and roll out farmer-friendly policies to strengthen the horticulture sector, which remains the backbone of Jammu and Kashmir’s economy.
