HIT BY STORM
Government has not intervened to help the families connected with fruit business and farmers. The sector was hit first by the clampdown of the central government after the abrogation of article 370, as many varieties of fresh fruits including peach and grapes could not be transported out because of the clampdown.
It was followed by the same impact on other fresh fruits and vegetables grown in Kashmir valley as the clampdown remained in force for months together.
Then came the month of November and untimely snow not only played havoc with the fruit trees but also with apple fruit which was still on the trees in many parts of South Kashmir especially in Kulgam district. As usual the administration promised compensation and started the required official survey which was completed after months of delay. According to the fruit growers, the government rubbed salt on their wounds when they transferred little money to the tune of Rs 1500 per orchardist in their accounts.
Then because of disruption in transport most of the fruit growers could not transport the apple and other varieties of fruit to the other fruit market and they stored all these fruits in the cold storage units at Lassipora Pulwama.
When the fruit growers were ready to transport apples out of Kashmir, again the authorities imposed lockdown in the entire Kashmir due to the Covid-19 pandemic which is still in force.
In such situations fruit growers have suffered immensely and have no source of income to start their life fresh.
