Calling for a comprehensive compensation for the farmers and orchardists who suffered extensive damages due to last year floods, the CPI (M) leader and MLA Kulgam Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami has urged the state government to provide much needed succor to the ailing horticulture sector and disburse financial relief to the affected families without any further delay.During his interaction with various delegations of fruit growers, farmers and representatives of sheep rearing community, Tarigami was informed that the horticulture industry in Kashmir has suffered around Rs 2900 crore loss due to floods last year. The CPI (M) leader was told that the farmers, fruit growers and sheep rearing community, have suffered extensive damage to their apple orchards, paddy saplings and livestock and in such situation these victims look forward for the government support.
“It is unfortunate that the farming community and fruit growers have always been taken for a ride by the successive governments,” he said. The CPI (M) leader remarked that the symbolic waiver on Kisan Credit Card (KCC) loans as was promised and announced by the state government to the farming community and the people associated with the horticulture sector is yet to bear fruits.He said the recent package announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has only Rs 500 crore for horticulture industry which is not only underrated but amounts to adding salt to the injuries of the flood-hit fruit growers and farming community.‘It becomes an obligation for the government to come to the support and succor of the farmers and orchardists as they form the backbone of the state’s economy and have always been suffering on account of weather vagaries.” Tarigami observed while urging the government to enhance the KCC loan waiver slab from Rs 1 Lac to Rs 3 Lacs in order to mitigate sufferings of the fruit growers in Kashmir.Tarigami said that agriculture, horticulture sectors and sheep rearing community have suffered a huge setback because of devastating deluge in September last year and the farmers are not in a position to repay their loans raised against their farming land and orchards. “This is why the government must prioritize speedy compensation to the farmers and apple growers who have suffered extensive damage due to floods and vagaries of weather.” (KNS)