Srinagar, Oct 26 : The prevailing uncertainty has cast its shadow on Rs 10,000 crore fruit industry, post abrogation of Article 370 and the bifurcation of state into two Union Territories.
According to wire service, the recent killings of non-locals in South Kashmir districts and the prevailing uneasy calm in the valley has choked the business of fruit right after threats from militants, protesters, and some members of the apple growers community to stop exporting the fruit to country “as a mark of protest against the move to scrap the special status.”
Ashiq Ahmad, a fruit grower from Shopian said, “No doubt we are feared by the recent attack on non-locals, a human live is more important than anything. We have just started plucking our produce amid the ongoing fear and rumour mongering.”
He said that, at the present time only 30 per cent of the production is transported outside valley and the remaining crop is yet to be shipped. He further said, “Before transportation of our crop it goes through a process of sorting, sizing, quality checking, and then packing, as the non-availability of labours have slowed down the process.” Ashiq, who has been associated with the apple industry for the past 30 years, said that apple industry is worth Rs 10,000 crore in Kashmir but “this year, clouds of uncertainty continued to hover around us since inception due to the August 5 decision by New Delhi.”
Amrit Pal, a trucker from Amritsar told said, “We have our families back at our homes who are highly concerned about the prevailing situation in valley. I prefer to transport some other goods from Srinagar rather than fruits.”
He said that, they have been transporting the fruits from the valley from the last 5 years and have never witnessed a worrisome situation like this. He further added, “We are leaving back home for now and we hope peace prevails in Kashmir so that we will be back to our normal business.” (KNO)
