Centre Set To Buy Kashmir Apples To Protect Farmers, Traders

Soothing fears of apple growers in Jammu and Kashmir, the Centre has said it will procure the state’s produce. The move comes after apple growers from Shopian, Baramulla, Srinagar, and Anantnag, in the aftermath of the abrogation of Article 370 last month, flagged concerns over monetary losses if the product was not harvested and exported to other markets on time.

Kashmir has been under lockdown and mobile and internet communication shut since the Centre removed Jammu & Kashmir’s (J&K’s) special status under the Constitution on August 5 and bifurcated the state into two UTs. Restrictions on the movement of people, vehicles, and goods have hurt the state’s economy which counts Apple as one of its biggest exports. Apple growers in areas like Shopian, Baramulla, Srinagar, and Anantnag have flagged fears of monetary losses if the product was not harvested and exported to other markets in time.